MILWAUKEE – Rep. Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) joined her Assembly Republican colleagues, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, and other local officials from Southeastern Wisconsin in a press conference on Thursday afternoon to unveil a bipartisan package that will make historic changes to the state’s shared revenue program and will allow both the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County to go to referendum to raise their sales tax.
“As we have gone around the state on the Joint Finance Roadshow, something we heard time and time again from constituents and local officials was that increasing shared revenue will help local governments provide essential services at adequate levels,” said Rodriguez. “We also heard from first responders that they are in need of additional supports to help them maintain adequate service levels.”
The proposal devotes 20% of state sales tax revenues – approximately $1.5 billion – to a new Local Government Segregated Account. Additionally, the legislation dedicates $500 million in new money to innovation and public safety. The $300 million Innovation Fund encourages local governments to come together and provide shared services by providing funding to help the innovating communities transition. The proposal also includes $227 million for law enforcement, fire, EMS, public works, and transportation.
“I’m proud to support a package that incentivizes efficiencies and provides additional state support to our first responders. Public safety is a priority for me and my constituents, and these substantial investments will help our law enforcement agencies and fire departments recruit and retain employees,” added Rep. Rodriguez.
“This package addresses not only local government statewide, but it addresses the ongoing unfunded liabilities in the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County pension systems. Under the proposal, we will allow the City and the County to go to referendum and ask the voters to increase their local sales tax in order to address ongoing unfunded pension liability, invest in the court system, and put more law enforcement officers on the streets,” commented Rodriguez. “My constituents have been becoming increasingly concerned with crime in Milwaukee. With this proposal we will ensure increased and sustained investments in public safety by putting more officers on the streets and more resource officers in the Milwaukee Public Schools that have the greatest need.”
The approximate increases in the sales tax rate in the City and County would be approximately 1.9-2.0% and 0.375%, respectively.
“Working on this package has been a truly collaborative and bipartisan effort, talking with our colleagues across the aisle and the local officials to reach a consensus we can all support. I’m proud to unveil this package and am hopeful for how it will improve local governance in all our communities,” Rep. Rodriguez concluded.
