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.

Goals for this year

As we continue to gear up for 2010, I wanted to share a few of the initiatives I’ll be pursuing throughout the year.

Newsletters

Starting this week, volunteers and I will be delivering the first of two newsletters into the district by hand. By skipping the post office and dropping off the updates personally, we’ll be saving over $6,000 for the year. This is on top of the monthly email newsletter and this column that help citizens keep up with what’s going on around the county.

Aerotropolis

I will be introducing legislation to further advance economic development around the Mitchell Airport. If successful, Milwaukee County will join other municipalities to form a nonprofit organization that will be able to better market the unique opportunities provided by Milwaukee’s low-cost airport, low traffic, and low shipping costs. Milwaukee has a great opportunity to show off our stark contrast to Chicago’s higher cost of doing business combined with its long shipping delays by road and air.

If we can work successfully together as a region, the surge of new airlines fighting to get market dominance at Mitchell Airport will only be a precursor to companies moving to take advantage of our growing shipping industry.

Community Gardens

If legislation I’m introducing this month passes, Milwaukee County will be adding a strip of community gardens on the east side of Sixth Street and south of Howard. This land has been vacant and unused for two decades so we’re going to try to put it to use. The Garden District Neighborhood Association has agreed to work on the first plots this summer. If successful, we will expand the project and invite other groups to put more land to good use.

Do you have other projects you’d like to see pursued in 2010? Please give me a call at 278-4252 or send me an email at chris.larson@milwcnty.com.

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.

Crisis time in Milw. County: Fourth St. Forum Feb. 3

Each forum is taped in front of a studio audience for later broadcast on MPTV Channel 10.1.  The audience can participate by asking questions of the panelists. The forums are free and open to the public.   Attendees can bring their lunch.

FORUM DATE AND TIME: February 3, WEDNESDAY, Noon
WHERE: Milwaukee Turner Hall, 2nd Floor, 1034 North 4th Street (4th and Highland)

BROADCAST DATES and TIMES: Milwaukee Public Television will tape this forum for broadcast on Channel 10.1 - Friday, February 5, 10PM and Sunday, February 7, 9AM. Full-length viewing of each program will be available at www.4thStreetForum.org and www.mptv.org.  It will also run on Time Warner’s, “Wisconsin on Demand,” (WIOD).

2010 budget conclusion

The conclusion of the 2010 budget is that we really only succeeded in delaying the looming crisis just a little longer. By kicking the problem farther up the road, we must again commit ourselves to gaining the dedicated sales tax that voters asked for in last year’s referendum. Until we move away from funding all our county services with the property tax, we will see a continued decline in all the county’s offerings.

Despite my best efforts to stop the decline in transit service, routes were trimmed a little more; the fare will go up another $.25; and the call center will not have as many live operators to answer calls. This is on top of the reduction of service over the last seven years that has resulted in over 40,000 jobs becoming inaccessible by transit, while bus fares nearly doubled. All of this could be reversed if the state grants the dedicated funding that 95 percent of transit systems across the country already have.  »Read more

Budget should reflect what Milwaukee values

It’s hard to say what the final county budget will look like. This is one of the worst budgets in Milwaukee County history, and given our fiscal state, there are no easy solutions. But it’s clear that the budget proposed by County Executive Scott Walker was not fiscally sound and could not be passed as introduced.

Among the biggest problems were wage concessions that would break both federal and state laws related to labor negotiations. The other major problem is that the executive’s proposed budget raises spending by about $80 million or more than 6 percent over last year. To do this, it relies on taking on three years’ worth of debt at once while pushing the real cost into the future.

It does sound tempting to pursue a “zero-percent budget.” But, given the level of cuts to our courts, parks, transit system, highway department, sheriff’s department, emergency medical services, and more, we would no longer live in the same community we now know.  »Read more

Damaging cuts expected from county exec.

Later this month, the county executive will propose his 2010 budget. If the past seven years are any indication, we will face a cold and unkind budget with many potential cuts to crucial county services. The County Board will have to make some difficult decisions about how to restore funding for the functions most important to you. As your representative on the County Board of Supervisors, I have heard your concerns. I am willing to fight for the quality of life that you expect and deserve in Milwaukee County.

Milwaukee County’s Farm and Fish Hatchery, which supplies 40,000 fish to county park ponds and lagoons including Humboldt, Holler, Wilson, and Saveland, seems to be one of the favorite targets of the county executive’s budget ax. This facility saves taxpayer dollars, provides great activities for Milwaukee County residents, makes food available for the hungry, and improves the environment. I will vote to restore funding for this facility should it be cut.  »Read more

Milwaukee “Aerotropolis”

Since taking office 16 months ago, I have been working to improve economic development near General Mitchell International Airport, which is owned and operated by Milwaukee County. These efforts culminated in July with a meeting of many elected officials and a discussion with John Kasarda, the leading expert on the “Aerotropolis” concept.

He believes that a new urban form is emerging-the Aerotropolis. These are aviation-oriented businesses clustered around airports and nearby transportation corridors. Similar to the traditional metropolis, the Aerotropolis consists of an airport core, outlying corridors, and clusters of aviation-linked businesses within a 20-mile radius. Elected officials from Milwaukee County, local municipalities, and designees from the state and federal levels are currently brainstorming how to spark further economic development within this zone.

We must first make sure the airport area is attractive for businesses. A wide range of businesses can benefit from locating near major airports like ours. Airports can provide accessibility, speed, and agility to supply chains and connect entrepreneurs with customers and other partners across the globe. For many people, the airport is the first and last place they see when visiting Milwaukee. Think of when you are shopping for a home and pull up to a house that is for sale. If it doesn’t look good, you’re probably not going to buy it. Simple things like planting trees and beautifying airport corridors will make the area more inviting and appealing.

We must work collectively to develop a long-term strategic plan for our airport area. Municipalities should come together to formulate a cross-jurisdictional Milwaukee Metro Aerotropolis Authority to oversee an integrated Aerotropolis. This marketing tool can effectively advertise our unique Milwaukee spirit. We’ve already started by adding Alterra Coffee and Nonna Bartolotta’s inside the airport.

Kasarda noted that Milwaukee County is actually ahead of the curve on the Aerotropolis idea. Our easily accessible shipping port, short freeway travel times, and proximity to the overflowing Chicago business market all give Milwaukee County a competitive edge. We should leap at this unique opportunity.

If you have ideas on how to increase this competitive advantage even further, please contact my office. For more information on the Aerotropolis concept, visit aerotropolis.com.

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.

Prescription savings available

In times of economic hardship like we’re in now, it’s important to save money wherever you can. If you or someone you know doesn’t have prescription drug coverage, the costs can be crippling. Since 2006, Milwaukee County has offered free prescription drug discount cards that provide 20- to 50-percent savings to all Milwaukee County residents with no prescription drug coverage.

Since the program was started, residents have saved more than $426,000 in prescription drug costs, for an average savings of more than 22 percent. There are currently more than 1,000 Milwaukee County residents taking advantage of this program, with that number growing every day. Even people with prescription drug insurance coverage can get the discount if they have a particular drug that is not covered under their policy. There are also some individuals who have been able to use the discount card on prescriptions for their pets.  »Read more

Results of today’s county board meeting votes

• 11-8 Veto sustained (No: Borkowski, Broderick, Cesarz, Jursik, Rice, Sanfelippo, West, Holloway) to override the County Executive’s veto of a resolution to establish an interest earning trust fund for the purpose of depositing monies bequeathed by the estate of Frank and Maxine Allen to economic and community development purposes.

• 15-4 (No: Dimitrijevic, Larson, Lipscomb, Weishan) to adopt an amended resolution authorizing the County Executive and County Clerk to convey by Warranty Deed a portion of the northeast quadrant of the County Grounds in the City of Wauwatosa for the development of a new College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) campus, to be known as the Michael J. Cudahy Innovation Park to UWM Innovation Park, LLC and/or assigns for the consideration of $13.55 million, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement.

• 8-10 item fails (No: Cesarz, De Bruin, Jursik, Lipscomb, Rice, Sanfelippo, Schmitt, Thomas, West, Holloway) to adopt an ordinance restricting the use of mobile telephones while operating a motor vehicle in Milwaukee County.

• 14-5 (No: Borkowski, Clark, De Bruin, Sanfelippo, Weishan) to approve a contract for the period June 1, 2009, through May 31, 2010, in an amount not to exceed $125,000 to retain consultant assistance and related services from Wisconsin Community Services, Inc. to the Milwaukee County Task Force on Work Reform for Men to provide more focus on equitable employment opportunities in work reform, particularly fathers and males of color.

• 12-6 (No: De Bruin, Johnson, Lipscomb, Sanfelippo, Thomas, West) to approve a fund transfer for the purchase of a replacement street sweeper requested by the Interim Director of the Department of Transportation and Public Works.

• 17-2 (No: Mayo, Thomas) to receive and place on file the report from the Controller, entitled “2009 Fiscal Report as of March 31, 2009,” dated May 12, 2009.

• 16-3 (No: Clark, Thomas, West) to modify Transit Route 53 on a trial bases to serve the arrivals and departures of the Lake Express ferry excluding the 12:30 a.m. trip.

Appointment No. 09-220 was withdrawn by the County Executive. All other items were approved with no objection. The complete agenda can be found here:

http://www.county.milwaukee.gov/CountyBoardMeeting121996.htm <http://www.county.milwaukee.gov/CountyBoardMeeting121996.htm>

The next regular meeting of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for Thursday, June 25, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 200 of the Milwaukee County Courthouse. 

A victory for Milwaukee County

You may have recently heard the news that Milwaukee County will receive 40 percent of the $91.5 million in federal transit funds that have been idle for 18 years. These dormant funds could have easily been diverted to other purposes outside of Milwaukee County. That’s why I applaud the efforts of Senator Herb Kohl, Representative David Obey, and Representative Gwen Moore to break this funding log-jam and preserve these funds for local transit projects. The fact that we stifled the use of this money for almost two decades sent a strong message to the federal government. It illustrated that, while other communities streamlined the process to use federal funds for new local transit options, we chose to be left out. Thankfully, that is now behind us.

The outcome forged in Congress means Milwaukee County will receive $36.6 million to enhance the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS), most likely in the form of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system utilizing hybrid buses. The remaining funds will go to the city of Milwaukee to potentially fund a downtown streetcar system. While I am not in complete agreement with the portion of the funds allocated to the city of Milwaukee, it is reassuring that we have finally been able to move beyond this impasse and start to look at the bigger picture. Milwaukee County residents have been sharply critical of this divide, and I am pleased that we can finally move forward on their behalf. I look forward to playing a role in determining how these funds are used in Milwaukee County.  »Read more

RTA in Milwaukee: A spirit of compromise

Right now, Milwaukee County’s transit system is in a precarious position and, if nothing is done soon, faces a 33 percent cut to the system. In an attempt to stave off this potential disaster, I have been working with other transit advocates to identify a solution. Here are the steps we have taken so far.

Last November, when the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority (RTA) came forth with its recommendation, there were flaws that caused concern here at the County Board. The RTA was originally put in place two years ago by Governor Jim Doyle to develop a regional transportation strategy for Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha Counties. Of the three counties, Milwaukee is the only one facing a transit crisis at the end of this year. If we don’t find a solution, Milwaukee County’s transit system will be reduced by 33 percent and all night, weekend, and freeway flyer service will be eliminated. Because of this impending crisis, Milwaukee County’s position affirms that rubber-tire buses should be the top priority for the RTA.  »Read more

Stimulation for Milwaukee County

Milwaukee County residents expect their tax dollars to be returned to Milwaukee County to benefit the greater good. We should expect no less from the federal taxes we pay. That is why I find it so disappointing County Executive Scott Walker decided to not seek federal funding as part of the upcoming economic stimulus package for local governments. We pay into the system and should see a reasonable return on our investments. I am pleased the County Board stepped up and submitted numerous “shovel-ready” projects that can stimulate our economy and provide permanent improvements for county residents.

Several of the projects submitted to the federal government benefit the 14th District and the Bay View area:  »Read more

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