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• Is Doyle starving the counties so as to force efficiencies and serious prioritizing in counties and municipalities?
• Or has the crafty governor decreased funding for the most vulnerable, knowing the legislature will be forced to add it back and hence take the blame for even more increases in the state budget?

The State has not kept up its share of funding for state-mandated services, and as a result, there has been an increasing reliance on property taxes to make up the difference. Some mandated programs, such as those associated with our youth, haven’t received an increase for over a decade. Yet, costs go up, case loads go up, and state law requires the programs to continue.

What makes the situation even more disturbing is that the State has disproportionately tapped into County revenue streams. For example, the Clerk of Courts collects County ordinance citation revenue. Since 1977, for an average citation, the County’s portion increased from $54 to $68, but the State’s portion increased from $3 to $118. In fact, since 1977, the State has enacted 60 new surcharges for Counties to collect, but we’re required to forward nearly all the revenue to the State rather then allowing Counties to keep a sufficient amount to cover the cost associated with implementing the State-mandated services.

The trends are discouraging. The State mandates the programs, does not meet its commitments, in many instances either reduces or holds flat funding, takes more of the revenue the County collects than it allows us to keep, and then seeks to divert responsibility and attention from itself and points the finger at local government for high property taxes. The response: a one-size-fits-all property levy cap.

It gets worse. Rather then lead by example, we are then notified that the State is going to raise its rates by double digit increases for services counties must pay for State Mental Health Institutions, further exacerbating the pressure on local property taxpayers.

Counties fully recognize that the State’s fiscal situation is dire, and that we need to be part of the solution. However, under the proposed budget, we find it amazing that critical “safety net” services to children and families are being targeted for significant reductions. In this time of economic crisis, even more people are turning to counties for assistance, not less.

[Payne details lost funding in the critical areas of Children and Family Aids, Mental health Placements, Youth Aids, Income Maintenance programs, and County Nursing Homes.]

In total, the above cumulative effect for counties is $75 million. .... With the combination of state shared revenue reductions and other negative implications from the proposed budget, Sheboygan County would have to absorb a $1.3M shortfall, which is equivalent to just over 3% of our 2009 property tax levy. This 3% reduction, or cost shift, is in addition to ongoing operational cost increases that the county must contend with, including wages and benefits, over which the State collective bargaining laws allow us little control.

…. Finally, as we strive to provide necessary services and property tax relief, please keep in mind our previous requests for mandate relief, means to better control our health insurance costs, and changes to the binding arbitration law. We need more tools to better manage our costs….

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