Toward regional synthesis, not partitioned bureaucracies

Recently, the Public Policy Forum released a report regarding the future of Milwaukee County government. While the 162-page study gave a balanced analysis of the situation without leaning one way or another, much attention has been paid by local media to the idea of simply “getting rid of” Milwaukee County government.

While this might sound good, the fact is that Milwaukee County is simply a supplier of essential services that stretch across 19 smaller municipalities. These services include mental health care, operating the airport, managing our courts, running two detention facilities, supplying bus service, maintaining 144 parks, and more. It’s important to remember these services are what the county does. If the county were “blown up,” these services would either no longer be provided or they would be given over to a different district.

I feel that partitioning off pieces of services to new bureaucracies isn’t the way to go. Many people say that government should function more like a business, yet I have not seen a successful business model that shows breaking apart a large entity in order to form smaller units that would do the same thing. The fact is that most areas of the country are moving toward regional forms of government in order to eliminate duplication, find efficiencies, and plan on a wider scale. This also helps in courting new businesses and planning for larger economic development zones. This is the direction Milwaukee County should move in order to be more competitive in attracting businesses, creating jobs, and keeping taxes low.

The plans to dissolve county government for the sake of just doing something are misplaced. Instead, let’s work together to find real efficiency in the way services are provided. I have been on the board for just under two years now and knew that it was going to be a challenge when I started. Now is not the time to shy away from these tough decisions.

Chris Larson is supervisor of Milwaukee County’s 14th District, which encompasses southern parts of Bay View, the airport, and other parts of Milwaukee’s southeast side. He can be reached at chris.larson@milwcnty.com or (414) 278-4252.

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