Abele, Lipscomb Announce Membership of Fair Deal Workgroup
Group includes diverse representation from community leaders seeking to recommend intergovernmental solutions to County funding challenges
MILWAUKEE, Monday, Dec. 10, 2018 – A group of 16 Milwaukee County leaders will seek to find practical proposals to partner with the State of Wisconsin in addressing the County’s funding challenges, County Executive Chris Abele and County Board Chairman Theodore Lipscomb Sr. announced on Monday.
Abele and Lipscomb are serving as co-chairs of the Fair Deal for Milwaukee County Workgroup, which was established by Board resolution and signed by Abele in October. The group seeks to recommend a path forward in working with the State on several growing issues in the County’s funding formula, including structural deficits, deferred maintenance for Parks and cultural institutions, growing pension costs and unfunded liabilities, and several urgent capital projects, such as the courthouse and Safety Building, Medical Examiner’s Office, Mitchell Park Domes and Public Museum.
“I’m grateful for all of the people who have agreed to join us and dive into what we can do to sustain and strengthen Milwaukee County,” said Abele. “It’s critical for us to create awareness of our financial challenges, as well as to build partnerships moving forward. Ultimately we are looking to create solutions that work best for everyone involved, including the State, other counties and our own community.”
Lipscomb said, “Everyone who has agreed to serve on the Fair Deal Workgroup brings a wealth of knowledge and valuable experience tackling complex public policy issues. I’m grateful that so many talented individuals are willing to help develop solutions to Milwaukee County’s fiscal challenges, and I’m eager to get to work on this effort alongside each of them.
“Taxpayers are counting on us to find solutions to our financial challenges and I am confident that the group we have assembled will produce a number of viable options for state leaders to consider,” he added.
The first meeting of the Fair Deal Workgroup will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 20, followed by meetings on Jan. 3, 10 and 17. Those serving on the workgroup will include:
Chris Abele and Theodore Lipscomb Sr., co-chairs
Stephanie Bloomingdale, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO
Marty Brooks, Wisconsin Center District
PJ DiStefano, Milwaukee Public Museum Board of Directors
Jim Goulee, Preserve Our Parks
Bryan Kennedy, Mayor of Glendale, Intergovernmental Cooperation Council (ICC)
Walter Lanier, MATC and Progressive Baptist Church
David Liners, WISDOM
Paul Mathews, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts
Fred Royal, NAACP Milwaukee
Tim Sheehy, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Chamber (MMAC)
Dave Steele, Regional Transit Leadership Council
Barbara Wyatt Sibley, Milwaukee County Commission on Aging
Julia Taylor, Greater Milwaukee Committee
Patty Yunk, League of Progressive Seniors
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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