September 25, 2009 

NEWS FROM THE MAYOR

Dear Friends,

Yesterday I delivered my 2010 Proposed Executive Budget to the Common Council. As I’ve said on numerous occasions, it was by far the most difficult budget I’ve had to face since becoming Mayor. It was a budget of shared sacrifice and I’m proud of our efforts to preserve City services while also being fair to taxpayers who are also experiencing hardships. We asked everyone to give a little and in doing so we achieved a lot.

My 2010 Proposed Operating Budget initiates this process by reducing full-time equivalent position strength by 380 and by eliminating approximately $32 million dollars from the operating budget baseline.

Although these sacrifices have been extremely difficult and certainly will have an impact, they have been made carefully and with strategic priorities and organizational efficiencies in mind. The Budget does not simply “cut”; there are several examples of how changes in service delivery, investments in technology, and improved management enable us to reduce spending without compromising results.

Since I took office public safety has been my top priority and that priority is reflected in this budget. Unlike many cities similar to Milwaukee, we are not laying off any police officers or firefighters. My budget includes the city’s successful Community Oriented Policing grant, which will allow for a new class of 50 police recruits in mid-2010. It also includes funding for a fire department recruit class next year.

Other priorities in my budget include:

• $215.7 million dollars in the Milwaukee Police Department, which will allow for continuation of its data driven deployment strategies and operation of the Neighborhood Task Force. 
• $99.8 million dollars in the Milwaukee Fire Department to enable response to fire suppression and Advanced Life Support.
• A $1.7 million dollar increase to the Department of Public Works local streets program, which will enable a 61-year replacement cycle - less than half the replacement cycle that existed when I took office.
• Funding for the Milwaukee Public Library to allow the continued operation of all neighborhood libraries, including public service hours on three of four weekday school nights and continuation of the popular Sunday hours at three libraries during winter time.
• New initiatives in the Department of Neighborhood Services operating budget and the Department of City Development capital budget to preserve the city’s housing stock from the threats posed by foreclosures.
• Development of a new Unified Call Center to improve customer response, enhance management reporting of problem resolution, and replace outdated technology applications.

Please feel free to follow this link to review my Proposed 2010 Executive Budget in its entirety.

Along with members of the Common Council, I will host a public hearing on the budget at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13th in the Common Council Chambers.

I welcome your feedback as we work together to move Milwaukee forward.

Sincerely,

Mayor, City of Milwaukee  

Visit my website at: http://www.city.milwaukee.gov/mayor