Welcome to Town of New Hope, Wisconsin

Welcome to the Town of New Hope Website! 

Many of the postings below have links to websites.  To access a posted website, click on the link, then click on the web address that pops up.  And please give us a call if you run into issues (715-677-4784)…Thanks!

UPCOMING TOWN MEETINGS:

• Wednesday, January 15, 6:00 pm (North New Hope Church): Annual Audit
• Wednesday, January 22, 6:00 pm (North New Hope Church): Regular Town Board Meeting

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY….

• The Town of New Hope Mitigation Plan 2024 is available (click the underlined link).  In serving our community, the Board and Staff have prepared and approved an emergency mitigation plan for New Hope (also available on the Ordinances/Resolutions section).  Any comments are welcome – please call or email Pat Zellmer, Clerk.
• Please take a look at our PC Local Emergency Response Guide December 2024 document, which includes contacts and options (starting on page 6) in an emergency.  It’s a work in progress, so please let us know how we can improve it – the best tool is only as good as it is useful.  We are looking for anyone who would volunteer in an emergency.  If that’s you, please call (715-677-4784) or email Pat Zellmer (clerk@tn.newhope.wi.gov) – we’re all grateful.

UPCOMING ELECTION INFORMATION:

The fall 2024 election is still in the rearview mirror, but here we go again…the Spring 2025 Elections are rapidly approaching, with three important dates:

• Tuesday, February 11, 2025  Public Test of Tabulator –  North New Hope Church, 845 County Road T, 9:00 am.  The Public is welcome to attend.
• Tuesday, February 18, 2025  Spring Primary (Wisconsin Supreme Court, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Court of Appeals) at North New Hope Church, 845 County Road T, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm.
• Tuesday, April 1, 2025  Spring Election (Town Board, Town Treasurer, Town Clerk, Local School Referenda, Wisconsin Supreme Court, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Court of Appeals, WI ‘Require Voter Photo ID’ Amendment) at North New Hope Church, 845 County Road T, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm.

Please remember to vote – your vote does count, and because local elections can impact you as much or more than state and federal elections, it’s especially important to vote this spring.

• If you still need to register to vote, or if you want to request an absentee ballot (for one or all 2025 elections), you can set that up on MY VOTE WI .
  • Requests for absentee ballots by mail at MyVote WI generate a request posted on WisVote (the WI Elections Commission site for clerks) and send a reminder email to your clerk.
• Voting Absentee-by-mail ballots are mailed out beginning January 28 through February 13.
• Absentee-in-person voting runs Tuesday Feb. 2 – Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Clerk’s office, by appointment – 715 677 4784.

Property Tax Information:  Lottery and Gaming Credit:  Please look at your 2024 property tax bill.  You qualify for the lottery and gaming tax break 1) if you are a Wisconsin Resident 2) who owns a dwelling that is your primary residence as of January 1 of the tax year.  You are allowed to claim that credit on one residence.

• If you are already getting the credit (which shows in the middle of your property tax page, below First Dollar Credit), no worries – it will automatically renew each year.
• If that credit does not show under 2024, you should apply for it.  Here are several documents that will assist you, including live links that will take you to the application site:
  • 1.  LotteryGamingCredit-Info
  • 2. Lottery and Gaming Credit Wisconsin Department of Revenue
  • 3. LGC-Gen-Filing

If you have any questions, please call Pat Zellmer, your town clerk.

COMMUNITY ALERTS:

• 2025 Town of New Hope Harter’s Calendar  Click on this link to get your 2025 garbage and recycling calendar.

As you know, the Town of New Hope takes pride in its rural nature, but that has some downfalls, including how best to communicate with each other, especially in emergencies.  Here are two ways we’re working toward making this better:

• Sign up for local and county alerts (weather, safety, community).  Click on Portage County Community Alert system., then click on the link that comes up, and follow the simple directions.  It only takes a few minutes, and you can get alerts via cell phone, landline, and/or email.  It’s the closest thing we have to a phone tree, and much more certain… linked with the Portage County Sheriff and Portage County Emergency Management Offices.  You can cancel this at any time, and the information you provide is secure.  Thanks for giving it a try.
• With winter (and COLD weather) at our doorstep, in case of an emergency (especially power outages) click on Portage County Warming Centers to find a place near you.  You can also call (715) 346-1400 (non-emergency) or 911 to reach the Sheriff.

DOG LICENSES:

• All dogs 5 months of age or older require a license.
  The fee is $12.00 for neutered or spayed dogs.
  The fee is $22.00 if not spayed or neutered.
  You must show proof of rabies vaccination for a license to be issued.
• You will need to send a copy of your dog’s rabies certificate, the appropriate fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the New Hope Treasurer Dorene Stolpa.  Your dog license, tag, and the information sent in will be returned to you in the envelope you provided.  Please e-mail the treasurer for more information at treasurer@tn.newhope.wi.gov
• A late fee of $5.00 shall be assessed to the owner for each dog not licensed by March 31st of the current year.
• First offense fines for County Animal control Ordinance violations are $169-$263.50 (this includes failure to license).