Lipscomb, Abele Launch ‘Fair Deal’ Initiative
County Leaders Co-Signed Legislation Monday Night at Annual Public Hearing on County Budget
MILWAUKEE – County Board Chairman Theodore Lipscomb, Sr., and County Executive Chris Abele officially launched Lipscomb’s “Fair Deal for Milwaukee County” initiative by jointly signing the legislation Monday night, after the proposal was adopted by the Board prior.
Lipscomb’s resolution establishes a workgroup to “identify and propose options for enhancing the long-term fiscal stability of Milwaukee County, enhanced public services and increased state funding of mandated services.”
Lipscomb and Abele will co-chair the workgroup as it develops solutions to address a growing imbalance between the tax revenue sent to Madison by Milwaukee County and what the county receives back in state support for mandated services.
“Each year, we strive to pass a responsible budget that balances the needs of our constituents with the limited resources available to Milwaukee County, but each year that balance is harder to strike. Milwaukee County is overdue for a “Fair Deal” with the State of Wisconsin that properly funds mandated services, provides us the tools to meet our long term obligations and invests in essential quality of life services of health and safety, transportation, and parks,” said Lipscomb.
“The existence of this imbalance and its impact aren’t new – this has been a drag on our budget and services for years. What is new is a unified Milwaukee County position, embraced by all leadership at the County, on the urgent need to find a solution and our shared resolve to work with the State to do it,” said Abele.
Chairman Lipscomb proposed establishing the “Fair Deal for Milwaukee County Workgroup” in early October.
Lipscomb’s resolution calls for the group to be formed immediately following the adoption of the 2019 budget, scheduled for November 5, and to meet in November and December of 2018 before presenting recommendations to the Committee on Intergovernmental Relations.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.