Representative Jon Richards had an interesting editorial in this morning’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Here is a key part of it, but please do read the whole thing:
Over the past 2 1/2 decades, our parks, once a national model for their size and quality, have been experiencing a slow decline. Parks funding has vanished in a way that we never would tolerate for our schools, roads or any other shred of our civic fabric. As that funding has disappeared over the past two decades, the cost of gas, concrete, lawnmowers, trucks and everything else involved with maintaining parks has gone up.
In 1986, the county’s parks budget was $45 million. If that number had just kept pace with inflation, the parks budget today would be $88 million. But funding did not track with inflation or increase at all. Instead, the parks budget has declined by $2 million compared to two decades ago. Recently, County Executive Scott Walker proposed a budget that included a funding cut of more than 20%.
The results are predictable: Our parks are falling apart. Now they are home to crumbling buildings, some of which are downright hazardous; impassible roads; closed swimming pools; and little or no programming. Staffing is also anemic. Chicago has 41 parks workers per 100 acres; Milwaukee County has only 3 per 100 acres. While efficiency in staffing is important, we have reached the point where we are cutting to the bone. If we want parks we can be proud of, something has to give.
We need to step up efforts to be creative with financing wherever possible. For example, I worked with a group of individuals from state and county government, private citizens and businesses to save Bradford Beach. That collaboration transformed a beach that had been closed for two-thirds of the swimming season to one that has earned the prestigious Blue Wave Certification from the National Clean Beaches Council.
But creative financing alone won’t get the job done for our parks. It also will not be enough to address the huge and growing backlog of deferred maintenance projects.
That is why I am working with Rep. Christine Sinicki to pass a bill in the Legislature to allow Milwaukee County to raise funds for our parks and cultural assets through an increase in the sales tax of up to 0.5%. The money raised would be used to reduce the property tax levy for parks by the same amount.
Our bill, AB 504, had a hearing last week before the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. If you believe that our parks are worth saving, give this bill a look. I believe this legislation is an important first step to reaffirm our belief that our parks are, and must continue to be, incredible assets to our community.
As we have been saying all along, the sales tax is really our only hope of saving the parks, and the transit system as well.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record:
This is where you come in.
You can help by signing our petition, either online or on one of hard copies, calling on the state legislators and Governor Doyle to finally recognize the will of the people and honor the referendum telling them that they need to allow us to help ourselves by passing the sales tax for transit and for the parks.
You also need to write, email and/or call your state representative and senator and tell them that the time has come and gone for them to act, and that you expect them to take action on these matters as soon as possible.
Here are the phone numbers for the state representatives. Please call and ask them to co-sponsor and support Rep. Sinicki’s bill.
Rep. Pedro Colón: (608) 267-7669
Rep. David Cullen: (608) 267-9836 or (888) 534-0013*
Rep. Jason Fields (608) 266-3756 or (888) 534-0011*
Rep. Tamara Grigsby: (608) 266-0645 or (888) 534-0018*
Rep. Mark Gundrum: (608) 267-5158 or (888) 534-0084*
Rep. Mark Honadel: (608) 266-0610 or (888) 534-0021*
Rep. Fred Kessler: (608) 266-5813 or (888) 534-0012*
Rep. Peggy Krusick: (608) 266-1733
Rep. Jim Ott: (608) 266-0486 or (888) 534-0023*
Rep. Jon Richards : (608) 266-0650 or (888) 534-0019*
Rep. Sandy Pasch: (608) 266-7671 or (888) 534-0022*
Rep. Tony Staskunas: (608) 266-0620 or (888) 534-0015*
Rep. Jeff Stone: (608) 266-8590 or (888) 534-0082
Rep. Barbara Toles: (608) 266-5580
Rep. Leah Vukmir: (608) 266-9180
Rep. Annette Polly Williams: (608) 266-0960
Rep. Leon Young: (608) 266-3786 or (888) 534-0016*
Rep. Josh Zepnick: (608) 266-1707
* Wisconsin calls only.