Finance Committee Recommends Two Amendments to Address Paratransit Concerns

MILWAUKEE – Today, the Committee on Finance voted to adopt two 2024 budget amendments, authored by a coalition of Supervisors to address paratransit concerns. Members of the public called for an increase in funding for the service during Transportation and Transit committee meetings throughout the year, as well as at the County Board Annual Public Hearing, which took place on October 30, 2023. Amendment 42 allocates $1,170,240 for eventual Paratransit Task Force recommendations. Amendment 51 expands a new role in the Milwaukee County Department of Transportation Directors Office. Supervisor Burgelis made the following statement:

“In his proposed 2024 budget, the County Executive suggested the creation of a new director-level position within the Milwaukee County Department of Transportation, initially intended for Public Relations and Marketing, with a salary range of $95,422 to $142,800. I am pleased that my colleagues found value in my amendment, which expands the scope of this new position to ‘Transit Ombudsman and Community Liaison’ and is aimed at ensuring reliable County transportation and preventing service failures.” said Supervisor Burgelis. “The position would analyze, report on, and investigate complaints, concerns, and recommendations, before forwarding them to the appropriate agency for resolution. This role would carry a strong commitment to neutrality, independence, and confidentiality, and importantly, would operate independently from the agencies they oversee. The Transportation Ombudsman will also play a key role in evaluating and implementing a new On-Demand Paratransit program.” 

On-demand paratransit taxi service was terminated on September 30, 2023, due to federal regulatory changes. A Paratransit Task Force was established to find an alternative solution, but it has not yet compiled a policy recommendation.

The amendments will be considered by the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors at their budget adoption meeting on November 9, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.

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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