MILWAUKEE, WI – Good morning, Chairwoman Nicholson, and members of the County Board. Thank you for holding today’s informational meeting on one of the most influential pieces of legislation to come in front of this legislative body in over a generation. I appreciate the robust consideration that you’ve given this issue, because – as I’ve said – this is truly one of the most pivotal pieces of legislation affecting local governments in a generation. And, finally, thank you for the opportunity to submit my comments on the historic opportunity that lies ahead of us as public servants.
Since being sworn-in over three years ago, I’ve made the fiscal health of Milwaukee County a top priority. And, thanks to federal and state pandemic relief resources, we were able to avoid devastating economic consequences brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the squeeze on Milwaukee County finances goes nearly two decades. Leaders on both sides of the aisle from Milwaukee County have sounded the alarm on stagnant state aids failing to keep pace with the demand for services from our residents.
Milwaukee County’s structural deficit is anticipated to reach $109 million by 2028. Within that same time frame, state-mandated services will also grow to consume our entire local levy. As a result, we would have to make over $100 million in cuts to provide the same level of service that we do now – after already cutting approximately $300 million already in the past decade. For context, reductions in roughly $109 million in levy expenditures for Milwaukee County is greater than the levy funding we put into our courts, sheriff, medical examiner, District Attorney, pre-trial services, emergency management, transit, paratransit, and parks combined.
Milwaukee County has implemented significant reforms, efficiencies, and cost reductions to address our budget crisis. We have reduced our workforce by nearly 4,000 employees since 2000, reduced our physical footprint by 3 million square feet, and redesigned our behavioral health system, but we still face an insurmountable challenge without state partnership to enable Milwaukee County to address our financial crisis and place us on a path of fiscal sustainability.
Act 12 represents a lifeline for Milwaukee County’s finances – a $109 million deficit would most likely require departments to cut 40% of their budgets – including personnel – which threatens to stifle, and in some cases completely derail, funding for critical programs such as housing assistance, disability services, youth & family services, public transportation, veterans’ services, and park safety. We stand at a crossroads for the future of our county, by choosing additional revenue we can continue to serve residents facing housing insecurity, we can continue to fund our transit services that residents rely on each day, and we can continue youth services like Credible Messengers and do more to keep our young people out of the justice system.
Getting Milwaukee County government on sound financial footing means a future where we can explore the investments, we’ve heard the community demand for decades. Milwaukee County has a vision to become the healthiest county in the state by achieving health and race equity, but those goals can’t be reached without long-term financial stability. For Milwaukee County to accomplish our vision, we need to invest in programs making an impact, and create more programs and services to improve the lives of our residents.
We can’t cut our way to being the healthiest county in Wisconsin, we must have the ability to make targeted investments in the items that meet the needs of our residents and foster wellness in our communities. Without this tool – put simply, there is no more fat to cut; any further cuts will significantly affect our ability to provide critical services, including some of those services that you each are key in advancing. Reaching a fiscal cliff remains the single biggest threat to improving quality of life for residents and setting up the region for long-term success.
This is a clear opportunity to secure Milwaukee County’s financial future and continue offering the services that keep residents healthy and safe.
