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Competing Groups Unite to Save Milwaukee County
Divergent groups gathered to put the pieces of Milwaukee County budget together and preventing budget cuts that could damage public services that benefit all community members. On Wednesday, September 20, over 100 representatives of County government, the Greater Milwaukee Committee (of business and foundation leaders), labor unions, religious groups, park advocates, disability rights supporters, community and neighborhood organizations held a rally at the Domes at 5:00 p.m. The event was hosted by the Alliance to Protect the Public Good, which has released an alternative budget plan that cuts the County deficit by a possible $62.2 million. The rally was held as a way for Alliance members to both shed light on possible budget cuts in County Executive Scott Walker’s proposed 2007 budget set to be released September 28, and present an alternative plan that could help save Milwaukee County structures. Many of these programs and those who benefit from them most are often forgotten by those in the community, as Vi Hawkins from Friends of Dineen Park demonstrated in her speech; “I feel as if some have forgotten that seniors were a vital part of building this community — and continue to be a vital part of Milwaukee County.” Maintaining these vital services for all in the community spurred the Alliance’s plan in response to cuts possible in Walker’s budget. There is a major shortage of money at the County level. Other counties are also facing this shortage because the state government does not pay enough to cover the cost of programs it demands from counties. Milwaukee’s shortage is worse because Walker has chosen not to raise property taxes over the past four years to cover the rising costs of gasoline, heat, health insurance and normal inflation.
Alliance members want to change this trend of cutting programs to curb the budget shortfall and even though they have diverged as individual groups in the past they want to work together on compromises to help put the pieces of Milwaukee County back together again. As Chris Abele, President and CEO of the Argosy Foundation and Greater Milwaukee Committee member said in his speech, “We are united by one thing. We all love this city and county. Together we can do a hell of a lot. We are excited at the prospects of working together.” Working together, Alliance members want to maintain over 100 programs in Milwaukee County that serve everyone from the homeless to golfers. The County government coordinates transportation, the courts, veterans’ programs, highway maintenance, child support, adoptions, senior centers, the Domes, the Zoo, assistance for the poor, birth, death and marriage records, help for the mentally ill, the lakefront beaches, and many other services. All these programs listed are in danger. As Palmer Bell, the Director of Disability Rights Wisconsin, stated in his speech, our legacy is on the line as well; “I urge the citizens of Milwaukee to resurrect their proud heritage of progressive, socially responsible government. This community’s fiscal problems need not be solved — must not be solved — by cutting away the flesh and bones that bind people together and make this a living community.”
To stop this needless destruction of County operations, the Greater Milwaukee Committee, labor leaders, Milwaukee County Board members, park advocates, human service agencies and religious groups have allied to build alternative strategies to prevent major cuts in Milwaukee County programs. Other participants included County Supervisors John Weishan, Willie Johnson, Gerry Broderick, Roger Quindel, Marina Dimitrijevic; GMC President Julia Taylor; Marcus White, Director of Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee; Rich Abelson, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 48; Vince Bushell, Riverwest neighborhood leader; and Jack Norman and Joe Fahey from the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future. Another group involved is Citizen Action of Wisconsin--a partner organization in the Alliance to Protect the Public Good. These often opposing groups need to work together to put the pieces
of Milwaukee County back together. Milwaukee is being fractured
by funding problems and contempt for what local government can and
should do for citizens. This report and gathering was a first step
in building the consensus and political will needed to make the
County whole once more. »Read the
Alliance's report Saving Milwaukee County |
