Dozens ask Abele to spare county services
MILWAUKEE - It was a packed house at the Washington Park Senior Center Thursday evening. One by one, people stepped up to the microphone, to speak out out against proposed cuts to Milwaukee County Services.
The county faces a $55 million dollar budget shortfall. County Executive Chris Abele says the budget situation is dire, and even compared it to "the Titanic meeting the Hindenburg".
Abele is considering cuts to community-based mental health programs, senior centers, the county bus system and the Transit Plus paratransit system for people with disabilities.
Several people who rely on the paratransit system told Abele how cuts to that system would have a negative impact on their independence.
At least two county supervisors are urging Abele to consider a property tax hike to create more revenue. Supervisors Theodore Lipscomb and Eyon Biddle say it's irresponsible to only talk about tax cuts, and that there should be a more balanced approach in the budget discussion.
But Abele says higher taxes are not the answer: "By raising property taxes... again... we're only enabling the state's ability to push costs and their debt down to Milwaukee and this is the economic engine of the state."
Abele is due to release his 2012 budget plan next month.
0 COMMENTS
ADD A COMMENT