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Cuts coming to Milw. Co. Board?
Cuts coming to Milw. Co. Board?
MILWAUKEE -- Wisconsin lawmakers are drafting a bill that would cut the pay of Milwaukee County Board supervisors by as much as 70% and cut the County budget by even more. Republicans say more jobs would be created, while Democrats say more power would go to the rich.
Former Milwaukee County Supervisor Joe Sanfelippo is continuing his quest to cut down Milwaukee County spending now that he is serving as a state representative.
"Since 2010 I've been writing and talking about it. It's incumbent upon the state to make sure that the services it expects the County to provide are being provided," Sanfelippo said.
Sanfelippo's most recent proposal is still in its infancy. In fact, it's not even a bill yet.
Sanfelippo says he shared a draft with a Democratic colleague and they immediately leaked it, but what's been revealed is strikingly similar to efforts he made once before in 2011.
"It's going to save money. $85,000 a year," Sanfelippo said.
Sanfelippo's proposal calls for taking the only full-time County Board in the state and slashing it's operating budget by more than 80% and changing it to a part-time board and paying supervisors $15,000 a year -- a number which keeps them the highest paid in the state.
Opponents of the plan say it would not only it would not only take away from citizen representation, but limit who could serve on the board.
"It will dramatically shift the balance of power here on the County Board to an even more dominate situation for the county executive," Milwaukee County Supervisor John Weishan said.
However, Sanfelippo says it's the citizens who are pushing for the change.
In April, more than 80% of voters in 12 of the County's 19 municipalities expressed their support for the plan. The other seven municipalities didn't have questions on their ballots.
"The citizens have waited long enough for some change in Milwaukee County government. It's time that we step in and start paving the way for that to happen," Sanfelippo said.
While Sanfelippo said he did not have a specific timeline for finalizing the bill's details, he said he would like Milwaukee County voters to make the decision. He's hoping to have something passed soon enough to get a referendum on this April's ballot.