The Milwaukee Post

By DAVE FIDLIN Special to the Post MILWAUKEE — As a Milwaukee County Board panel digs into the budget and resi- dents weigh in on County Executive Chris Abele's budget proposal, there is a near-uni- fying thread throughout discussions: trans- portation. Abele's proposed 2017 budget clocks in at $1.19 billion. Faced with a mounting $15 mil- lion deficit, the draft document calls on a 1.46 percent increase in the property tax levy that would bring $4.19 mil- lion into the funding hole. Another mechanism aimed at bridging that gap — a proposed $60 wheel tax imposed on all county-based motorists — has drawn scrutiny this fall. The tax, Abele said, is one of the few options the county has to raise revenue with the state's current laws in place. Speaking to the fee, Abele in a statement said, "In the face of declining state and fed- eral funding and rising capital and operating costs, my recommended budget heads off a looming crisis." If implemented, the tax would be added to motorists' annual vehicle registration fees. The maneuver, permissible under state statutes, is familiar to city of Milwaukee res- idents, who already pay $20 more than the state-minimum $75 fee to renew a license plate. Milwaukee residents would pay $155 annu- ally with the state fee and city and county fees added. Suburban residents within the county would pay $135. Residents in sur- rounding counties would continue paying $75 annually. The planned fee dominated residents' com- ments Tuesday at one of several public hear- ings held by the County Board's Finance and Audit Committee. Nearly a dozen residents spoke, many who were critical of the tax. "You're going to get people to move out of the city," Milwaukee resident Robert Piotrowski said. "I'll definitely be one of the first to do it because I can." As an alternative, Piotrowski suggested the county try a flat tax at one or more amenities that draws regional attention, such as Miller Park or the Milwaukee Bucks' new arena. "The wheel tax is just baloney," Piotrowski said. "If you do a flat tax, it will be a lot bet- ter and make more money." James Macon, who heads the county bus drivers' union, Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 998, argued the proposed wheel tax will encourage unlawful acts. "(The wheel tax) will hurt the county," Macon said. "Sixty dollars is very high. You're going to run into a situation where people are going to stop registering their cars." Abele's budget draft also includes a provi- sion that would scale back the Go Pass pro- gram. In its current iteration, the Go Pass offers free bus rides to seniors and persons with disabilities. But the program has burned a $4 million deficit into the current operating budget. Resident Al Glasenapp, who has a disabili- ty and qualifies for the Go Pass, criticized the County Board for implementing the pro- gram. "Nothing in this life is free," Glasenapp said. "I've paid (for bus service) in the past. I know I have to pay. I don't know where this political correctness came from … but we don't want to be treated differently. Just feel free to ask us to pay." Supervisor Peggy West, who chairs the Finance and Audit Committee and has presided over recent hearings, emphasized she and fellow panelists are not looking to completely wipe out the program. "We're asking for income qualifiers," West said, pointing out some passengers still might be entitled to free or reduced fares under the plan. "This would add some additional layers," she said. "Maybe we should've had them from the beginning." Other speakers have questioned the rationale in moving forward with the bus rapid transit plan that would require an additional investment of county funds. Although transportation is garnering the lion's share of attention this fall, there are other notable elements of Abele's draft budg- et, including a plan to infuse $665,000 into county programs located within some of Milwaukee's most impoverished neighbor- hoods. Abele said his budget also begins the process of ensuring all county workers receive a minimum hourly wage of $15 by 2021. October 21, 2016 • Milwaukee County Post • 3 Transportation issues dominate county budget talks County executive's proposed $60 wheel tax undergoes public scrutiny Abele West A look ahead 9 a.m. Monday,Wednesday and Thursday — County Board reviewing possible amend- ments to Abele's amendments; Room 203-R at Milwaukee County Courthouse, 901 N. 9th St. 6 p.m. Oct. 31 — County Board holding public hearing on recommended 2017 budget; Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N.Water St. 8:30 a.m. Nov. 7 — County Board will adopt budget; Room 200 at Milwaukee County Courthouse. 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