Some food for thought in this season of public budgeting:
A few days ago I posted the rationalization for Milwaukee County withholding its $800,000+ annual annual assessment from the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, (SEWRPC).
Note in a discussion of regional planning in the Madison Capital area, we learn that Dane County is currently blocking a similar assessment - - and I'd argue that the issues in the two disputes have overlap - - and thereby is willing to use the receipt of taxpayer dollars logically and fairly as a lever to meet land preservation and other public policy goals.
Where is the gumption in Milwaukee County government to ask SEWRPC, at a minimum, for an annual work plan in exchange for a large grant of taxpayer dollars?
I'll bet there are many agencies that would like to receive a no-questions-asked annual grant of more than $80,000, let alone more than $800,000.
And let's not think that in an era of billion-dollar budgets that $800,000 isn't real money.
For example, unless I misread pages 7900 7-8 in the 2012 proposed Milwaukee County budget for the Department of Aging, the County will spend about $600,000 on meals for seniors - - a service being cut for several reasons, including the loss of a state contribution.
Milwaukee County must not really have a budget crises if they can afford to blow $830,000 on SEWRPC. That money could save a few bus routes.
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