MILWAUKEE – Today, the Wisconsin State Legislature Joint Committee on Finance will meet to discuss Shared Revenue. Milwaukee County Supervisor Steve F. Taylor issued the following statement:
When the Joint Finance Committee meets this afternoon to discuss Shared Revenue, I urge members to address the challenges Milwaukee County faces in funding state-mandated services.
Let’s be clear: State funding has decreased while the costs of state-mandated services continue to increase. In Milwaukee County, this has meant the absence of more than $1 billion in state aid since the early 2000s. Shared Revenue has helped, but that funding has failed to keep up with inflation.
Mandated services now account for nearly 80% of Milwaukee County’s local levy, with state-mandated public safety services now costing $212 million annually. The price tag on these mandates is rapidly increasing. In the next 10 years, state-mandated public safety services are anticipated to cost Milwaukee County more than $381 million annually.
We don’t want special treatment in Milwaukee County; we want equal. And the fact is that other counties in Wisconsin do not face the same challenge we do. Wisconsin State Patrol provides service in 71 counties – everywhere except Milwaukee County. At a local cost of more than $20 million by 2029, Milwaukee County is the only county required to patrol expressways and state highways.
That money is critical for our community. Without State support for services like highway patrol, Milwaukee County will be forced to cut the local programs and services our seniors, families and businesses need.
I have seen the value of past State-County partnerships. Republicans have been in the majority for decades. Let’s finally figure this out.
