Cutting Milwaukee County Board pay isn’t the end of the world
As expected, former County Supervisor Joe Sanfelippo (now State Rep. from West Allis) announced a plan yesterday to trim the pay and benefits of County Supervisors in Milwaukee County:
A draft of a bill by Rep. Joe Sanfelippo (R-West Allis) obtained by the Journal Sentinel would require a binding referendum to be held in April that would cut the 18 supervisors' pay to $15,000 a year and limit the County Board's budget to 0.25% of the county's total levy.
The version obtained by the Journal Sentinel – which is at least a fourth draft – would need to be on a fast track. The draft refers to needing to pass by Feb. 16 in order to get on the April 2 ballot. Proponents of the measure said they were optimistic they could pass it that quickly.
I heard a lot of commentary about how this was a "slap in the face to local control" and see that it's a predictable comeback from some of those affected as well. I disagree however.
The legislature is giving the residents of Milwaukee County – those who would be affected – the choice to speak out through a referendum as early as this spring.
I don't know if there's a clearer example of "local control" or direct democracy for that matter than to give the electorate a yes or no vote on a policy such as this. As I wrote yesterday when there are Supervisors who are double dipping and earning over $100k/year and don't actually do anything, you can't help but wonder why people like me are behind this.
It should also be pointed out that when this issue came up as a referendum last year in ten Milwaukee suburbs, it passed overwhelmingly. I expect the same will happen if this referendum is put before voters this spring.
Trackbacks and Pingbacks
Comments are closed.
I don’t even….
Really, Dan? You want to be the park czar so badly that you’re being this foolish?
#smdh
I have neither the desire nor the education to be in charge of the parks dept, and it’s a pretty simple assumption that something like that is the only reason I’m supportive, especially when it’s mostly laid out above fairly clearly.
Well, first of all, you don’t want a parks dept. You want the parks spun off.
Secondly, you’re not exactly being forthcoming with the facts, are you? I don’t see you explaining how this will affect the caliber of candidates, the ability of the board to see through bad law and bad proposals, etc.
Why don’t YOU tell us why you have not done so since you don’t want me to do it?
MMSD, MATC and the Milwaukee Cty board are considered the armpit of governments in this state by everyone outstate.
The board should be composed of 25 members paid at $15,000 per year, no bennies and no pensions except 401k. Same with the other boards. If the boards are too small then it costs to much to run meaning that we have to raise too much in donations from special interests.
County supervisors around the state are paid about $1 per person they represent. The reason other boards pay their members $15K is because they represent only about 15K people. When the MKE Co Board was downsized their districts grew to be almost the size of a state rep’s district. That is why they are making $50K.
MKE Co also has things other counties don’t, like the House of Correction and the mental health complex (until Abele gets rid of it and puts all those people in the community). Comparing MKE to other counties is foolishness.
@capper
Chris, you’re completely wrong and continue to make assumptions based on, what? I don’t know.
I do want a parks department, I just want the 30 year experiment of County running it to end.
Which “facts” am I not being forthcoming about? Don’t try to come over here and lay down crap like “you’re not being honest and I’m going to out you” like you do elsewhere. How do I know how it will affect the caliber of candidates? We’ve had a lot of crappy ones without any changes and they’ve been just as culpable of passing crappy policy as anyone else.
No one seems willing to defend people like Cesarz or Rice or Cullen or 20 others who were making 50k/year. Why don’t you start.
As usual, what’s your point other than trying to act sanctimonious and clever? If you have a point to make, make it. Either that or leave your accusatory ramblings on your own blog.
The simple fact that is that this will create a plutocracy that will have ripple effects all across the state. You will have only people like Cesarz, Rice and Sandfelippo running the board. Then bad ideas, including the selling off and development of the parks, will be the norm.
And that’s just the start.
Capper, how about you go back to your own blog and keep up with your disturbing obsession with Chris Abele.
Dan, ignore the trolls. You’re going to catch crap about this. It’s one of the things I’ve always admired. You speak your opinion even when it’s not popular or not to your advantage politially.
Chris, That’s not a fact, it’s your opinion. In incorrect one, in my opinion.
Oh? You think that people who aren’t independently wealthy will flock for a job that pays so little, allows no time to analyze bills (if they were allowed the staff to do that), and that there won’t be any problems? Really?
Yeah, just like it doesn’t happen on the MPS School board! Look at all the “wealthy” people on that Board. And look at how much time they don’t spend analyzing anything.
And look how good they’re doing!
Does anyone know if Sanfelippo ever gave back pay/benefits when he was a supervisor? If he didn’t feel that he was doing enough work for the pay/benefits perhaps he would have more credibility now if he had given back his own then. I’m not really making a statement on the policy itself, but his proposal seems more like settling scores with his old political rivals. But I don’t like the guy on a very personal level, so take it for what its worth.
Dohnal – There have always been “outstate” critics that attack Milwaukee for any and everything. So pardon me if I feel no obligation to bend over backwards for them. I certainly don’t think that we should change policy based on their often inaccurate and knee jerk complaints.
Dan,
It looks like we have some views in common after all. — Jerry
http://mctaxpayer.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/david-double-dip-cullen-rejects-sheriff-clarkes-bus-security-plan/
http://mctaxpayer.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/sucker-punch-1-milwaukee-county-supervisors-are-now-out-on-recess/