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5/7/2009
Finally. Stuff is hitting the fan.
Everywhere else in the country (well, not in D.C.) governors are slashing spending. Finally, the message gets through to Madison. Finally. MacIver summarizes news reports from the past several days.
- The Chairmen of the Joint Finance Committee canceled Thursday's planned meeting as legislative leadership meets outside of public scrutiny to develop a strategy to deal with a worsening budget picture.
- Although the figures are not yet available to the public, Governor Doyle has hinted that tax collections have diminished as Wisconsin's economy falters.
- Some press accounts predict the new numbers will show that Wisconsin will begin the next Budget in a hole of as much as $7 Billion.
- Initial claims for unemployment insurance increased to a total of 22,344 for the week ending May 2nd.
- Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona), Co-Chair of the Finance Committee, has said the body may need to 'revisit' some of the actions it has already taken regarding the Budget due to the pending fiscal projections.
Add to all of this, Governor Doyle’s private meeting with 16 mayors yesterday, delivering the bad news, prior to the Fiscal Bureau paper promised for Monday or Tuesday.
In February, the governor recommended a 1% cut in [shared revenue] aid, and city leaders this week said they fear Doyle will have to propose a 5% decrease in 2010.
"No numbers were discussed, but the sense was that we're going to be hit," Barrett said. "I think (the governor) was attempting to brace us for the hit."
The possibility that City of Milwaukee employees will face unpaid furloughs "is very real," he said. "We're looking for ways to avoid, or minimize, the layoffs."
Mayors are most worried about protecting police and fire services, Barrett said.
Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said: "We're obviously going to have an additional cut in shared revenues of some size. We're going to have to start looking at some contingencies."
Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna, president of the Wisconsin Alliance of Cities, said Doyle sent a message that a larger deficit threatens state and local programs.
"Everything is back on the table," Hanna said. "It doesn't change our jobs. We've been looking at anything, and everything."
After his session with more than 15 mayors of the largest cities, Doyle met with the top two Democratic legislative leaders - Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker of Weston and Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan of Janesville.
Neither Decker nor Sheridan had any comment after the meeting. It’s time for all of us to cinch the belts. Governments included.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
Jo:
Well don't you think it is about time we hear from Outagamie County and what they are going to do if their BCA(Basic County Allocation) is cut for next year's budget? Mayor Hanna has obviously been thinking about it but I have not heard a word from the county which is a major part of our tax bill.
They should have had a priority session with the board and the county executive months ago when they new this was coming.
Instead we get inaction because they feel they can pass this along to the taxpayer come this fall when the budget is set. We should be calling our county supervisors and the county executive now and asking what are they planning and how are they going to determine what to cut.
Growth will not save us this year as in year's past and we need answers now not when the budget is already cast in stone.
Mike
Mike Thomas (Thu May 07 09:35:10 2009)
The governor isn't tightening HIS belt, though...He's just slashing shared revenue (as well as robbing segregated accounts, to pay for his INcreased spending.
He is also taxing local butchers, oil companies, increasing UW fess, etc. We HAVE to recall him NOW, before the district lines are re-drawn in 2010 to favor the spendaholics even more!
emily matthews (Thu May 07 09:48:35 2009)
**It’s time for all of us to cinch the belts. Governments included.**
I'd say, "Especially government!"
Why is it local governments always say they're worried about police and fire departments being cut? All should be made to find waste and overspending in each of their separate bureaucracies especially including administrative and not just police and fire.
This is a red herring that is always dragged in front of the electorate to get them off the main problem, which is overspending and waste in government.
As a good start it would be good if the governor would get off the idea of new railroads, light and fast, in this low population state. This is insanity.
C.R. Stevenson (Thu May 07 11:31:19 2009)
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