No Runny Eggs

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker’s veto message is below the fold. Among the 22 are the County Board pay increase, continued funding the infamous House of Corrections Farm and Fish Hatchery, and the separate $9,127,378 tax levy increase.

Since the County Board will be voting on overriding these vetoes tomorrow, hammer them first thing tomorrow to get them to uphold all 22.

DATE: November 13, 2007

TO: The Honorable County Board of Supervisors

FROM: Scott Walker, Milwaukee County Executive

SUBJECT: PARTIAL VETO OF FILE NUMBER 07-379 (2008 Budget)

I am vetoing in part the County Board budget, File No. 07-379 (2008 Budget)
pursuant to the authority granted to me by Article IV, Section 23(a) of the
Wisconsin Constitution and Section 59.17(6) of the Wisconsin Statutes.

First of all, let me say I am optimistic about Milwaukee County’s future.
The vetoes I cast today are not because I’m battling the County Board. I
am battling against the reality that Milwaukee County finds itself in a
fight to keep businesses and families from leaving because our taxes are
too high. And while I have great hopes for this County, I know those hopes
cannot be realized if we give in to the notion that we need to raise more
money through taxes to drive economic development. I believe quite the
opposite, we need to take less.

Look at what’s at stake with the MillerCoors merger. Do we really believe
that more taxes create the best economic climate possible to influence that
decision? And what about the American Bowling Congress, will the County
Board’s suggested tax increases push that decision over the edge?

I would love to see commercials that invite businesses to Milwaukee because
Milwaukee is good for business. But we can’t send out those kinds of
messages, because we keep raising taxes. Milwaukee shouldn’t be in the
position of having to ask corporations to stay. But we are. And that’s
why I’m vetoing the items in the County Budget.

The budget, as passed, maintained most of the provisions included in the
budget I submitted to you in October. Specifically, as adopted, the Board
maintained key public safety provisions contained in my Recommended Budget,
including full support for the Sheriff’s Targeted Enforcement, Drug
Enforcement and Expressway Patrol units, additional funding for law
enforcement equipment and Airport security, better monitoring of Huber
inmates through the use of Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) equipment,
increased funding for the Firearm Offender Supervision program and
increased funding for the County’s Emergency Medical Services system. In
regard to the GPS initiative, I welcome and support the County Board’s
recommendation to engage the Community Justice Council Steering Committee
and to retain additional Correction Officer positions in order to phase in
the initiative.

Public safety is a priority in this budget, and so is making Milwaukee
County an affordable place to live, work, learn and retire. Recently it
was noted that the cost of electricity, fuel, gas, groceries and medicine
had gone up. The conclusion was that the amount government collects from
the taxpayers should go up too. I agree with the assessment of costs, but
disagree with the outcome. Costs are going up and that is all the more
reason why we have to be mindful of what our residents and employers can
afford.

The reaction of taxpayers at the MPS budget meeting should remind us that
most people feel we already pay too much to the government. The budget I
return to the County Board today not only avoids an increase – it actually
provides a slight decrease in the property tax levy.

Keeping residents here in their homes and attracting new residents is good.
So is keeping and attracting jobs to our county. Recent census estimates
show that even the City of Milwaukee is adding more residents.

Economic growth is important. Last year, we saw more than $1.1 billion in
new construction throughout Milwaukee County. To further that growth – and
to make the case for businesses like Miller Brewing to stay here – we must
hold the line on taxes, which will lower their cost of doing business in
our region.

Controlling the tax burden can be done while also ensuring that we continue
to provide core services – the kinds of services that make us proud to live
in Milwaukee County. Our budget, with these vetoes, seeks to provide these
services in new and innovative ways that are more cost effective.

A good example of rethinking how we provide services is in the parks. My
original budget would replace a wave of entry-level, year-round parks
workers with funding for seasonal employees. This plan would protect the
taxpayers by saving money but also protects the parks by adding nearly
20,000 more hours of labor. My vetoes include a return to this
money-saving way to get more work done in the parks.

We maintain the new funding for parks maintenance and add it to the $12.9
million I included to improve our parks system. We begin work on a new
aquatics center at Lincoln Park, install new playground equipment, improve
our parkways, build new splash pads, upgrade trails and fix areas of the
lakefront.

Our budget also maintains funding for the cultural institutions and
provides infrastructure improvements at the zoo.

In the area of transportation our budget maintains all of our bus and
ParaTransit routes. It includes no increase in the cost of ParaTransit
rides or the cost of passes for frequent users of the transit system.
While the state is still providing considerably less than the historical
level of support, there was some help in the latest budget. We used that
funding to support our bus system.

Major improvements continue at General Mitchell International Airport. In
September, the airport broke the monthly record for passengers and is on
pace to once again break the annual passenger record. A national travel
magazine recently named our airport as the 4th best in the country. Our
improvements are working.

And this budget includes a major investment in infrastructure. We improve
county roadways and bridges. We also include funding to resurface a number
of parkways.

The adopted budget also maintained my recommendations related to key human
services initiatives, including increased funding of more than $1.7 million
for the Behavioral Health Division to address patient and staff safety
concerns caused by increased patient volume and the increased acuity of
patients being served at the mental health complex. The Board also
approved my supportive housing initiative that will provide an additional
$1 million for the construction of housing for individuals with mental
illness. These efforts, combined with the creation of a new Housing
Division in the Department of Health and Human Services and continued
support for the recommendations of the Special Needs Housing Action Team,
provide for meaningful, long-range action to address the housing needs of
our most vulnerable citizens.

These are the things that make us proud to live in Milwaukee County and
they continue to be priorities in this budget.

The budget passed by the County Board includes the majority of the strong
initiatives that I included in my original budget to make this county safer
and to reflect the pride we have in our people and assets. Now, I call on
the members of the County Board to finish the job and make this budget
affordable for the people of Milwaukee County. This will make a good
budget great.

Below are the specific vetoes I am returning to you for consideration. I
believe that the average family is already overburdened by increasing costs
and County government should not add to this burden. As noted below,
through the use of my veto authority, I am returning the 2008 Budget to the
County Board with a tax levy that is slightly less than the 2007 levy of
$241,047,846.

I have exercised my veto authority as follows:

Veto #1 County Board Salary Increases
[Levy Change from Board Action: $0]
Amendment 1A 077
Amended Section 17.99 General Ordinances of Milwaukee County relating to
the salaries of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors and the County
Executive

This amendment increases personal service expenditures by $29,851 and
reduces services by the same amount in the County Board Office and
authorizes an increase in Milwaukee County Supervisors’ salaries of
4% effective April 1, 2008 to remain at that level for the duration
of the 2008-2012 term.

I have partially vetoed this provision and entirely vetoed the
modifications to Ordinance 17.99 to avoid reducing the budget for the
County Board Office, but to remove the authorization for the
increased pay for County Board Supervisors.

I have vetoed this provision because I do not believe this provision
should have been considered as a last-minute amendment to the budget,
but more appropriately should have been advanced through the
Personnel Committee to ensure full public debate of this policy and
fiscal matter.

Veto #2 Land Sales and Inclusive Housing Fund
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$1,000,000]
Amendment 1B022 & 1CO14

This amendment modifies the Land Sales budget to reflect the
potential sale of the County Grounds Northeast Quadrant to
UW-Milwaukee and allocates $1.0 million of land sale revenue and
expenditure authority to the Capital Improvements budget for project
WO043-Inclusive Housing Fund.

I have partially vetoed this provision to retain the listing of the
sale of the County Grounds Northeast Quadrant as a potential land
sale in 2008, retain $1.0 million of revenue in the Land Sales
budget, but eliminate the reallocation of $1.0 million in land sale
revenue to the Capital Improvement project WO043-Inclusive Housing
Fund. My partial veto also removes the authorized expenditure of
$1.0 million for the Inclusive Housing Fund resulting in a levy
savings of $1.0 million.

I am concerned about the addition of $1.0 million to the Land Sales
budget based on the sale of the Northeast Quadrant. My concern is
not over whether this sale should take place, as I am very excited
about the plans for a UWM School of Engineering on the County
Grounds, and I strongly believe that the sale of this parcel for that
purpose is the right move for the citizens of Milwaukee County.
Instead, my concern is whether this sale can be consummated by the
end of 2008. Because one of the biggest obstacles to an expeditious
sale is potential delay by the County Board, the Board’s insertion of
this provision into the Budget allows me to feel more comfortable in
retaining this provision. I would remind Supervisors, however, that
they have a responsibility to join me in aggressively moving this
project forward so that we can indeed realize this revenue in 2008.

I am vetoing the provision allocating $1.0 million from the Land
Sales budget to the Capital Improvements budget for project
WO043-Inclusive Housing Fund. The budget I presented and ultimately
adopted by the Board already includes $1.0 million for the
construction of housing for individuals with mental illness under the
auspices of the new Housing Division in the Department of Health and
Human Services. Unlike the Inclusive Housing Fund, this fund for
special needs housing is governed by clear criteria proposed by my
administration and adopted by the County Board, and it is
strategically designed to address significant programmatic concerns
in the Behavioral Health Division, including overcrowding in its
acute inpatient units and Psychiatric Crisis Service. Conversely,
the specific purpose of the Inclusive Housing Fund has never been
defined and it has not been determined how this fund is consistent
with the core mission and strategic objectives of Milwaukee County.
In light of the recognized need for additional affordable housing in
Milwaukee County, my Recommended Budget did propose allocating
surplus land sales revenue to the Inclusive Housing Fund so that we
could develop a plan for the use of these funds and utilize them if
they materialized due to a surplus. However, in light of our fiscal
constraints and the appropriation of $1.0 million for special needs
housing, I cannot justify dedicating an additional $1.0 million of
direct property tax levy for this purpose.

Veto #3: Courts Staffing
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$438,907]
Amendment 1A045

The Courts budget I presented to the Board recommended the
abolishment of 4.0 FTE vacant Clerical Assistant 1 positions (two of
which were also unfunded in 2007), the abolishment of 2.0 FTE vacant
Deputy Court Clerk Judicial Assistants and the abolishment of 9.0 FTE
Legal Research Interns. This amendment restores and provides funding
for two of the four Clerical Assistant 1 positions, the 2.0 FTE
Deputy Court Clerk Judicial Assistants and the 9.0 Legal Research
Interns. Under the amendment, 2.0 FTE Clerical Assistant 1 positions
would remain but would be unfunded in 2008. Finally, this amendment
reduces the proposed lump sum salary adjustment for the Courts by
increasing funding for personal services by $167,396. In total, this
amendment provides an additional $850,885 in tax levy for the above
noted restorations.

I have partially vetoed this provision to retain the authorization
and full funding of the 9.0 FTE Legal Research Interns ($411,977) and
to retain the authorization for the 2.0 FTE Clerical Assistant 1
unfunded positions in the Register in Probate Division as approved by
the Board. However, my partial veto restores the abolishment and
eliminates the funding for the 2.0 FTE vacant Deputy Court Clerk
Judicial Assistants and 2.0 FTE Clerical Assistant 1 positions for a
levy savings of $271,512. Further, by writing down the reduction in
the lump sum salary adjustment by $1, my partial veto will restore a
lump sum reduction of $1,400,790 and a levy savings of $167,395.

I have retained the 9.0 FTE Legal Research Interns because of the
Chief Judge’s expressed concern about the impact of such a reduction
on the operations of the Courts. However, I continue to believe that
abolishing 4.0 FTE vacant support positions will not jeopardize the
operations of the Courts and that the lump sum reduction proposed in
my recommended budget is manageable.

Veto #4: State Funding for Courts System/Appropriation for Contingencies
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$2,000,000]
Amendment 1C009

The final State Budget did not include approximately $2.0 million in
additional State aid for the administration of the State Court System
in Milwaukee County as anticipated by the Courts in their 2008 budget
request and in the 2008 Recommended Budget. The County budget as
adopted by the Board did not adjust the projected state aid for the
Courts as reflected in final provisions of the State Budget. As a
result, as adopted, the Courts budget includes approximately $2.0
million in State revenue that will not materialize in 2008. However,
the County Board, under Amendment 1C009, appropriated an additional
$3.0 million to the appropriation for contingencies to "help
partially mitigate State revenues that were not realized upon passage
of the 2007-09 State Budget in late October 2007."

The County Budget as adopted by the Board establishes expenditure
authority of $49,280,945, revenue of $12,573,524 and tax levy of
$36,707,421 for the Combined Court Related Operations 2008 budget.
Amendment 1C009 appropriated an additional $3,000,000 in tax levy for
the Appropriation for Contingencies as indicated above.

I am partially vetoing the budget to reduce the budgeted revenues for
the Combined Court Related Operations budget by $2,000,000 and reduce
the authorized expenditures for the Courts by $2,000,000. Further, I
am partially vetoing Appropriation for Contingencies (Amendment
1C009) to reduce by $2,000,000 the increase of $3,000,000 provided by
the Board.

The impact of this partial veto is to reduce the additional funds
appropriated to the contingency fund by $2,000,0000 and establish
Court expenditure authority at $47,280,945 and Court revenues at
$10,573,524. This partial veto retains the Board adopted levy of
$36,707,421 for the Combined Court Related Operations as adopted by
the Board.

I am using my veto authority to adjust the Combined Court Related
Operations budget to reflect the realities of the final State Budget.
I do not believe the failure of the State to adequately fund the
State Court System should result in shifting these costs to Milwaukee
County property taxpayers. My intent in reducing the increase to the
contingency fund adopted by the Board by $2.0 million is to prevent
the shift of these costs to the tax levy, and I hope the County Board
will join me in 2008 in opposing any contingency fund request to
address this shortfall in State support to the Courts. The fiscal
impact of this veto is a reduction in tax levy of $2.0 million, a
reduction in state aid to the Courts of $2.0 million and a
corresponding reduction in Court expenditures by $2.0 million.

I extend to the Chief Judge and County Board Chairman an invitation
to continue working with me to convince the Governor and the State
Legislature to fulfill their responsibility to adequately fund the
State Courts, and my administration also stands ready to assist the
Chief Judge in developing a plan for making the operational
adjustments that will be required in the absence of additional state
support.

Veto #5: Child Support Enforcement Funding and Positions
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$135,812]
Amendment 1A014

This amendment restores funding for 1.0 FTE Child Support
Coordinator, 2.5 FTE Legal Counsel Child Support 1 positions and 3.0
FTE Paralegal positions in the Department of Child Support
Enforcement.

I have vetoed this provision in its entirety because I will not
support the use of property tax levy to replace lost federal funding
for Child Support Enforcement. Similar to the failure of State
government to fulfill its fiscal responsibilities, we are seeing an
increasing trend by the Federal government to pass the financial
burden onto to local governments. As a result of the Federal Deficit
Reduction Act, Milwaukee County will lose approximately $8.0 million
in federal funding during 2008 for Child Support Enforcement. As the
Federal Government backs away from its responsibilities, increasing
pressure is placed on local governments to fill the gap. To be
clear, I will not use property tax levy to replace lost Federal
funding. Consequently, I have vetoed this provision in its entirety
because I will not support the use of property tax levy to replace
lost federal funding for Child Support Enforcement.

Veto #6: County Clerk Positions and Funding
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$84,714]
Amendment 1A016

This amendment provides $84,714 in tax levy and restores the Deputy
County Clerk position in the County Clerk’s Office.

I have partially vetoed this amendment to retain the position of
Deputy County Clerk. However, I have vetoed the additional property
tax levy provided to the County Clerk’s Office through this amendment
for a levy savings of $84,714. In light of the significant fiscal
challenges facing all County departments, it is necessary for the
County Clerk to implement strategies to live within the personal
services allocation provided in my Recommended Budget.

Veto #7 Register of Deeds Positions and Funding
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$198,694]
Amendment 1A041

This amendment denies the abolishment of three positions, including
one position each of Deputy Register of Deeds, Clerical Assistant 1
and Office Support Assistant 2, the cost of which is completely
offset by increased real estate fee revenue.

I have partially vetoed this amendment to retain the position of the
Deputy Register of Deeds, abolish the Clerical Assistant 1 position,
abolish the Office Support Assistant 2 position and reduce the
expenditures of the Register of Deeds by $198,694 for a levy savings
of $198,694. In light of the significant fiscal challenges facing
all County departments, it is necessary for the Register of Deeds to
implement strategies to live within the personal services allocation
provided in my Recommended Budget.

Veto #8: Farm and Fish Hatchery
[Levy Change from Board Action: $0]
Amendment 1A012

The budget I presented to the Board included the closure of the House
of Correction Farm and Fish Hatchery for a levy savings of $256,384.
I have consistently proposed the closure of the Farm and Fish
Hatchery because its operation is not a core county function and
because it diverts valuable resources away from activities supporting
staff and inmate safety at the House of Correction. The above
referenced amendment restores the operation of the Farm and Fish
Hatchery.

I have vetoed this amendment entirely to restore my intent to close
the Farm and Fish Hatchery in 2008.

Veto #9 House of Correction Contractual Services
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$342,618]
Amendment 1A049

This amendment restores $342,618 to the House of Correction budget
for contractual services expenditures related to AODA and job
development/assessment programs serving inmates at the Community
Correctional Center (CCC).

I am vetoing this amendment in its entirety for a levy savings of
$342,618. In light of the County’s budget constraints and the
pressure of unfunded and underfunded State and Federal mandates, we
must dedicate our public safety dollars to core correctional
services. Also, while this veto will eliminate contractual services
for AODA and job development/assessment for Huber inmates, the budget
still includes my proposal to fund a full-time Community Services
Coordinator to assist in matching offenders with existing programs
offered in the community.

Veto #10 Electronic Monitoring Monthly Briefings
[Levy Change from Board Action: $0]
Amendment 1A048

This amendment requires the County Executive and the Superintendent
of the House of Correction to provide monthly briefings through
October 2008 for the Committee on Judiciary, Safety and General
Services on the ongoing development and implementation of the
expanded home detention program.

I have partially vetoed this amendment to remove the requirement that
the County Executive provide briefings to the Committee on the
Judiciary, Safety and General Services because the County Executive
is an elected Constitutional Officer not subject to the direction of
the County Board or County Board committees.

Veto #11 Funding for 211 Phone Line
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$300,000]
Amendment 1A006
Amendment 1A056

These amendments provide an additional $200,000 in tax levy to the
Department of Health and Human Services and $100,000 in tax levy to
the Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Health
Division for the 211 phone line.

I am vetoing these amendments for a tax levy savings of $300,000 to
reduce the tax burden on Milwaukee County citizens. Unfortunately,
the refusal of the State of Wisconsin to properly fund mandated human
services has necessitated the use of millions of dollars of property
tax levy overmatch to pay for those services in areas such as Income
Maintenance, Disabilities Services, Delinquency Services and
Behavioral Health. This unfortunate reality prevents us from
utilizing tax levy to the extent we might otherwise desire to fund
non-mandated human services such as the 211 line. It is also
important to recognize that the budget still will appropriate
$200,000 for the 211 line per my original recommendation, which is a
substantial contribution to this function.

Veto #12 Behavioral Health Division Purchase of Services Funding
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$302,016]
Amendment 1A001

This amendment provides an additional $302,016 in tax levy to the
Department of Health and Human Services-Behavioral Health Division
for purchase of services contracts with the AIDS Resource Center and
Fighting Back, Inc. for AODA prevention activities.

As noted above, unfortunately, the refusal of the State of Wisconsin
to properly fund mandated human services has necessitated the use of
millions of dollars of property tax levy overmatch to pay for those
services in areas such as Income Maintenance, Disabilities Services,
Delinquency Services and Behavioral Health. This unfortunate reality
prevents us from utilizing tax levy to the extent we might otherwise
desire to fund non-mandated human services such as AODA prevention
and education activities. It is also important to recognize that the
budget still will appropriate more than $500,000 for these contracts
per my original recommendation, which is a substantial contribution
to this function.

Veto #13 Architectural and Engineering Contractual Services
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$150,000]
Amendment 1A039

This amendment provides $150,000 to the Department of Public Works –
Architectural, Engineering and Environmental budget for the building
inventory and assessment program.

I have vetoed this amendment entirely because there are sufficient
resources in the Department of Public Works to continue work on this
initiative. My veto of this item results in a tax levy savings of
$150,000.

Veto #14 Transit Zone Fares
[Levy Change from Board Action: $0]
Amendment 1A030

This amendment requires the Milwaukee County Transit System to
prepare a zone fare proposal for Waukesha County residents who use
the Milwaukee County transit services in the event Waukesha County
institutes a zone fare for residents of Milwaukee County who use
Waukesha County transit services. Further, the amendment requires
the Milwaukee County Transit System to report its findings back to
the Transportation, Public Works and Transit Committee for Board
approval.

I am vetoing this amendment entirely because I believe it runs
counter to Milwaukee County’s need and desire to engage in productive
discussions with other Southeastern Wisconsin counties regarding
regional transportation.

Veto #15 AODA Funding
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$600,000]
Amendment 1A074

This amendment provides an additional $600,000 in tax levy in the
Department of Health and Human Services – Behavioral Health Division
budget for AODA services in 2008.

I am vetoing this amendment because I cannot support the use of tax
levy to replace the lost Federal funding related to the Access to
Recovery grant. It is also critical to note that the County’s AODA
budget still will be nearly $18 million, which is $4.5 million more
than the amount provided prior to receipt of the original ATR grant.

Veto #16 Youth Sports Authority Funding
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$200,000]
Amendment 1A003

This amendment provides $200,000 in tax levy in the Department of
Health and Human Services – Delinquency Courts Services Division
budget for funding for the Youth Sports Authority.

I am vetoing this amendment for a tax levy savings of $200,000
because this is not a core function of County government that should
be financed by the property taxpayer. As noted above, unfortunately,
the refusal of the State of Wisconsin to properly fund mandated human
services has necessitated the use of millions of dollars of property
tax levy overmatch to pay for those services in areas such as Income
Maintenance, Disabilities Services, Delinquency Services and
Behavioral Health. This unfortunate reality prevents us from
utilizing tax levy to the extent we might otherwise desire to fund
non-mandated human services such as the Youth Sports Authority.

Veto #17 Interim Disability Assistance Program
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$187,980]
Amendment 1A009

This amendment provides $187,980 in tax levy and 1.0 FTE ESS position
for the Interim Disability Assistance Program administered by the
Department of Health and Human Services.

I have vetoed this amendment because providing bridge funding for
persons awaiting Federal Social Security benefits is not the
responsibly of local government, but rather the responsibility of the
Federal Government. As such, these costs should not be borne by the
local property taxpayer. Also, as noted above, the refusal of the
State of Wisconsin to properly fund mandated human services has
necessitated the use of millions of dollars of property tax levy
overmatch to pay for those services in areas such as Income
Maintenance, Disabilities Services, Delinquency Services and
Behavioral Health. This unfortunate reality prevents us from
utilizing tax levy to the extent we might otherwise desire to fund
non-mandated human services such as IDAP. This veto reduces the
property tax levy by $187,980.

Veto #18 Safe Alternatives For Youth Program
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$150,000]
Amendment 1A051

This amendment provides $150,000 in tax levy in the Department of
Health and Human Services – Delinquency and Court Services Division
budget for implementation of the Safe Alternatives for Youth Program
in 2008 per the provisions of Adopted County Board Resolution File
No. 03-247, which established the Safe Homes (subsequently re-named
the Safe Alternatives for Youth) oversight committee. Under the
provisions of this amendment, the Director of the Department of
Health and Human Services is directed to execute a contract in the
amount of $12,000 with the Milwaukee Urban League for fiscal agent
services and is authorized to deposit $138,000 in SAY appropriations
with the Milwaukee Urban League as fiscal agent, from which
identified activities under the program will be funded.

I have vetoed this amendment because – similar to other vetoes
described above in the area of Health and Human Services – I cannot
support the appropriation of local property tax dollars for certain
non-mandated human services at a time when the burden for local
taxpayers continues to grow to fund mandated human services that are
not adequately funded by the State of Wisconsin. In addition, I do
not believe it is a core function of County government to provide
grants for educational, cultural and recreational activities for
disadvantaged youth, and I believe there are many higher priorities
for our local human services dollars. This veto results in a tax
levy savings of $150,000.

Veto #19 Wading Pool Hours
[Levy Change from Board Action: $0]
Amendment 1A 065

This amendment requires the Parks Director to staff the Milwaukee
County wading pools at staggered hours to ensure that some wading
pools will open at 10:00 a.m. and some will remain open until 7:00
p.m. during the entire aquatics season. Further, the amendment requires the Parks Director to report back to the County Board with a
2008 wading pool schedule prior to the opening of the aquatics
season.

I have partially vetoed this amendment to remove the requirement that
wading pools be staffed to ensure that some wading pools will open at
10:00 a.m. and some will remain open until 7:00 p.m. during the
entire aquatics season because I believe the Parks Director should
maintain the administrative and management flexibility to establish
wading pool hours based on usage, weather conditions and maintenance
needs.

I am confident the Parks Director will continue to work with the
Board to ensure appropriate availability of parks resources to County
residents. My partial veto retains the requirement that the Parks
Director shall report back to the County Board with a 2008 wading
pool schedule prior to the opening of the aquatics season.

Veto #20 Parks Funding and Positions
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$2,851,979]
Amendment 1A066

The 2008 Parks Department budget I presented to the Board included
the restructuring of park maintenance staff that would have yielded a
$2,035,050 property tax savings and increased the hours available for
park maintenance by 15,000"”20,000 hours per year. This was
accomplished by abolishing 81.0 FTE Park Maintenance Worker
positions, 31.0 FTE of which are vacant, providing additional funding
of $598,379 for seasonal maintenance staff, creating 14.0 FTE
Forestry Worker DOT positions and 6.0 FTE Park Maintenance Worker 2
In-Charge positions and over $1 million in the capital budget for the
purchase of labor-efficient capital equipment.

In addition, my recommended budget proposed abolishing 11.54 FTE
positions that were either vacant or proposed for abolishment by the
Parks Department. Positions proposed for abolishment included 3.0
FTE vacant Office Assistant 3 positions, 1.0 FTE Special Events
Coordinator position, .50 FTE Special Events Coordinator HR position,
3.0 vacant FTE Head Lifeguard positions, and 1.04 FTE Park Intern –
Athletics positions.

Finally, my budget recommendations included the abolishment of 1.0
FTE Community Center Manager position and 2.0 FTE Park Maintenance
Worker Assistant positions, leaving 1.0 FTE Community Center Manager
position and 2.0 FTE Community Center Supervisor positions.

The above referenced amendment restored funding and authorization for
50.0 FTE Park Maintenance Worker positions, eliminated $598,379 for
seasonal maintenance staff, restored authorization for 16.0 FTE Park
Maintenance Worker positions (but unfunds them) and maintains the
creation and funding of 14.0 FTE Forestry Worker DOT positions and
the 6.0 FTE Park Maintenance Worker In-Charge positions as originally
proposed. Further, the above noted amendment restores position
authorization, but unfunds 2.0 FTE Park Maintenance Worker Assistant
positions, 1.0 FTE Special Events Coordinator position and .50 FTE
Special Events Coordinator HR position. While the amendment is
ambiguous as to the positions that are to be unfunded, it provides
$209,713 in salary, social security, active and legacy fringe benefit
funding.

The amendment restores funding and position authorization for 1.0 FTE
Community Center Manager position and restores, but unfunds 2.0 FTE
Park Maintenance Worker Assistant positions related to Community
Center operations.

Lastly, the amendment increases building repair and maintenance
funding to $165,888. I originally proposed $60,473.

The amendment provides an additional $3,646,657 in tax levy support.

I have partially vetoed this amendment to restore as closely as
possible the original proposal submitted with my 2008 Recommended
Budget. Specifically, my veto retains the abolishment of 50.0 FTE
Park Maintenance Worker positions and removes $3.9 million in funding
for these positions. Through my partial veto, I have retained 16.0
FTE unfunded Park Maintenance Worker positions for no fiscal impact
as proposed by the Board. Further, while I have maintained the
provisions of Amendment 1A058 that provide an additional $648,021 in
operating capital outlay for the Parks Department, I have vetoed the
additional repair and maintenance funds provided in this amendment
and written down the lower amount of $60,473 as I originally
proposed. Finally, my partial veto retains $598,379 for seasonal
park workers by leaving sufficient funds in the Personal Services
account to cover additional seasonal staff.

In addition to the above, my partial veto restores the abolishment
and removes funding for 1.0 FTE Community Center Manager position.

Lastly, my partial veto restores authorization, but unfunds 2.0 FTE
Park Maintenance Worker Assistant positions, 1.0 FTE Special Events
Coordinator position, and .50 FTE Special Events Coordinator HR
position.

To reflect the above, I have written down the Personal Services
expenditures without fringe benefits to $18,508,535. I believe that
this approach will provide for additional hours of seasonal
maintenance in the parks at a much lower cost for taxpayers and is
precisely the type of innovative approach to providing services that
the County’s fiscal constraints and its taxpayers demand and deserve.

Veto# 21: UW-Extension Contract
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$172,533]
Amendment 1A 018

This amendment denies the proposed termination of Milwaukee County’s
contract with the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin
System effective 2008 and restores funding to the 2007 levy for the
UW-Extension by increasing expenditures by $293,613 and increasing
revenues by $121,080 for a net tax levy increase of $172,533.

I have exercised my partial veto authority to eliminate the
continuation of this contract, remove the expenditure of $293,613,
the revenue of 121,080 and the tax levy of $172,533. As partially
vetoed, Milwaukee County’s contract would terminate with the Board of
Regents effective 2008. My partial veto retains the $37,507 for rent
and related lease expenses for the first four months of 2008.

I have partially vetoed this amendment to affect the termination of
the contract and the removal of funding for the UW-Extension contract
because I believe that these funds are better spent on higher
priority core County functions.

Veto #22 Capital Budget Marcus Center Ballroom
[Levy Change from Board Action: $0]
Amendment 1B013

This amendment authorizes $200,000 in general obligation bonding for
the replacement of the partition system in the Marcus Center
ballroom.

I am vetoing this amendment in its entirety to bring the total 2008
general obligation bond issue to a level within the established Board
policy. County Board policy indicates that 2008 corporate purpose
bonds be limited to a total of $30 million. As adopted by the Board,
the estimated total corporate purpose bond issue for 2008 would total
$30,120,000 or $120,000 above the Board imposed cap. By vetoing
project WO037 – Marcus Center Ballroom Operable Partition
Replacement, 2008 Corporate purpose bonding would total $29,920,000.

I have vetoed this project to reduce the general obligation bond
amount in 2008 to a level consistent with the County Board policy
that is designed to limit long-term fiscal obligations for County
property taxpayers.

Veto # 23 Tax Levy
[Levy Change from Board Action: -$9,127,378]
File No. 07379

I am vetoing the Final 2008 Tax Levy for 2008 General County Purposes from
$250,038,473 to 240,911,095, a decrease of $9,127,378.

______________________
Scott Walker
Milwaukee County Executive