Parks, transit, and the state budget

As most know by now, Governor Doyle vetoed a funding source for parks, transit, and emergency services that Milwaukee legislators fought very hard to insert in his budget. We convinced legislators from outside Milwaukee County to allow our County Board to levy up to a 0.65-percent sales tax for transit and EMS, and we were working tirelessly to add another 0.35 percent for parks to that limit when the budget had to be sent to the floor so it could be enacted by July 1.

So, the 0.65-percent sales tax was included in the budget the Legislature sent to Governor Doyle, who vetoed the provision. In his veto message, the governor stated that the federal government wants a regional approach to bus and rail transit if they are to award funds to southeastern Wisconsin for these purposes. For that reason, he would not approve a sales tax for transit in Milwaukee County alone. (Read more about what he said in his veto message, starting at page iv: http://www.doa.state.wi.us/debf/pdf_files/2009-11VetoMessage.pdf).

In regard to parks, the governor said that the only way he would approve helping Milwaukee County to financially support their park system would be to pass a new law allowing the creation of standalone public parks districts, following the Minnesota and Illinois models. So though our hard-won gains in the 2009-11 budget process did not survive the governor’s veto pen, it is important to remember the fight is not over.

The governor has promised he will soon be forwarding to the Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha legislative delegations his new proposal for southeast regional transit. However, if it contains a proposed regional sales tax, the Racine delegation has said they will not support it.

Meanwhile, we are reviewing legislative options regarding parks in response to the governor’s statement, and will be providing information about our ideas soon. Rest assured both parks and transit remain priorities for me as well as for many area residents and other Milwaukee legislators. We will continue to work with Governor Doyle and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to create consensus about the best way to fund and govern regional transit, and to ensure long-term funding stability for Milwaukee parks.

Chris Sinicki is the state representative for Wisconsin’s 20th state Assembly District, which includes southern Bay View, St. Francis, Cudahy, the airport, and other parts of the south side. Her website is chrissinicki.net and she can be reached at (888) 534-0020 or rep.sinicki@legis.wi.gov.