This month's column focuses on a number of things happening at MEUW.

The 2015-2016 state legislative session is off to a quick start. The legislature has been focused on the governor's proposed budget, recently enacted right-to-work legislation and school accountability. MEUW members have been largely unaffected by the legislature's work thus far. The proposed budget's impact on your utility's operations is likely minimal. We have engaged in two issues related to consolidation of various state agencies of I.T. functions with the Department of Administration, and the proposed elimination of the Local Government Property Insurance Fund. We are concerned how the I.T. proposal will impact the high level of service our members receive at the Public Service Commission and how several members will be impacted by the proposed elimination of LGPIF. We will remain engaged in this process to raise awareness of the impacts of these proposals.