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October 2005 Bay View Compass Editorial
An Empty Promise for Our Future
On September 29th, County Executive Walker delivered his proposed Milwaukee County Budget for 2006 to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors. For the second year of my term, he has fulfilled his promise of a tax freeze, but it's time to ask ourselves, what kind of promise is this for our future?
County Executive Walker's budget revolves around one goal, to freeze taxes to the same amount as this year's adopted budget. It is not to provide quality county services to county residents, or improve upon our public transportation, lower the rate of unemployment, or even address the needs of our failing public infrastructure. It is to keep the tax levy amount the same as last year, which in fact was an increase of 2.9% from the year before. The County Board made improvements last year to his budget and adopted a budget which kept taxes near the rate of inflation to preserve many county services. Now County Executive Walker's proposed 2006 budget is $6.5 million more than his 2005 proposed budget. This confirms that he believes the increase was reasonable and necessary to provide county services.
It is time for Scott Walker to work on a real promise, a promise of honesty with our county residents. This community deserves an honest conversation about the future of Milwaukee County and the real costs of the services we all depend on and enjoy.
It is politically opportunistic to present a "freeze" budget that looks good at first glance, but ends up costing us all more in the near future. We all want to hold the line on taxes, but we also have to maintain the safety net for our most vulnerable citizens. That's why I question whether a 23% fare increase for regular bus riders to get to work, school or shop is necessary. This is an actual tax increase for anyone who rides Milwaukee County buses. The Chief Judge has indicated that a 25% cut in courts will adversely affect the public's access to our justice system. A backlog in defendants awaiting criminal case trials could result in an inmate population well above one that the County Executive has budgeted. In addition, a backlog in Courts may drastically increase the wait for people filing for divorce, trying to collect child support payments, or even placing a foster child into a caring home.
Perhaps the most disappointing component of this empty promise is the decision by the County Executive to severely underfund the identified pension system contribution. The Pension Board, which is an independent body, receives an actuarial analysis of the funding contribution level necessary to meet pension obligations, and makes a recommendation on the amount of funding. The County Executive has decided to underfund this recommendation by 57%. This defers the legal obligation to a future generation of taxpayers to pay, but helps him make the hollow claim that he froze the tax levy. Is this even a real freeze when necessary payments are just being deferred? That's not the kind of frozen pond I'd ice skate on. It's also not a promise worth keeping.
Your Milwaukee County Supervisor,
Marina Dimitrijevic
MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Courthouse Room 201, 901 North 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233
PHONE: 414-278-4232 FAX: 414-223-1380
Page last updated 10-17-05
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