The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a report about an audit done on the parks system of Milwaukee County.
As we could have predicted, the news is indeed grim.
There are still some “gemstones” in our parks, like the Domes, Bradford Beach and the David Schulz Aquatic Center. The audit has some pictures taken of these true gems, and are things that should make Milwaukee County proud. The audit has some nice pictures of these wonderful places starting on page 18.
The audit correctly points out that these “gemstones” would not be as brilliant as they are if it were not for the hard work of groups like the Park People and corporate partners.
Unfortunately, there also are many, many areas that are not so nice. The audit lists these as “eyesores,” and again, the audit has pictures of these
Tennis courts at Jackson Park, courtesy of Gretchen Schuldt
starting on page 42. There are too many buildings and other parts of our infrastructure that are so deteriorated from neglect that they are unsafe to use, much like what the County has allowed to happen at the Eschweiler buildings.
The audit goes on to state the obvious: The decline in the parks are in direct correlation to maintenance being deferred time and time again, for the past three decades. The cause of the deferrals are due to the ever-increasing unfunded and underfunded mandates that Milwaukee County is responsible for, which cuts deeper and deeper into the discretionary funding which would normally be used for said maintenance.
Another factor is just poor planning and poor use of the few dollars that we do have, using it for grandiose schemes by some of our elected officials in order to pander to their base supporters, whether it actually serves the people of Milwaukee County or not.
While the audit plots out some strategies and factors that our elected leaders need to keep in mind in trying to put a bandage on this hemorrhaging wound. One of the ideas I find most intriguing is to allow some of the parks to grow back to their natural state. Unfortunately, I don’t know how well that would turn out, considering that our one remaining naturally growing site, the county grounds, is about to be sold to developers, despite the County Board’s and Scott Walker’s promises to preserve the land.
What the audit really does is to point out the desperate need for the state legislature to get off their collective duffs and pass AB 504, the bill that would allow Milwaukee County to enact a dedicated half-cent sales tax, with corresponding property tax relief.
You can help by signing our petition, and then contacting your state representative and telling him or her to honor the referendum that was passed more than a year ago, allowing us to salvage our parks and transit systems. The contact numbers are:
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.
You do realize that the report mentions the tax increase you want and does not endorse or reject it and has a number of other suggestions that don’t require a tax increase. Why go right for a tax increase over other options that don’t cost people money in this recession?
Why should Milwaukee County be forced to give up what used to be the standard for parks around the world for one politician’s personal aspirations?
Of course, if Walker had done his job, things wouldn’t have been as bad as they have gotten, now would they?
I repeat – Why go right for a tax increase over other options that don’t cost people money in this recession?
Again, the other options diminish the parks, and it would be impossible to bring these losses back once they are gone. That is, frankly, unacceptable.
You still haven’t answered my question. I understand that you just don’t have a good answer for it.
If the report had one more section showing when the gems became gems and estimates on when the eye sores became eye sores, I believe you would have a different view of thing. The gems exist because of recent upgrades to things that were on their way to becoming eye sores. Several have happened because of the current county administration. The county parks web site even shows that more gems are on the way. Milwaukee even won an award for the planning and work being done for the parks. That isn’t something you get because you are making thing worse or keeping the status quo. In short, because of this group, more gems exist today than when they took over. And since eye sores don’t pop up as fast as new construction, the number of eye sores might be close to the same as when the administration took over. However, the report doesn’t tell us that one way or the other.
You talk about the other options diminishing the parks and things being lost forever. Are you saying that if something stopped being used, then became an eye sore and then got returned to its natural state is unacceptable especially as new gems are being created based on what is being used and what the majority are wanting? Are you saying that if one thing goes away that there is no other option for someone wanting to use the parks? With everything going on with the park and what is planned for the future, your statement doesn’t make sense.
I did mention in the post that returning some of the parks to their natural state was an intriguing idea.
Perhaps you should also read today’s editorial section regarding Walker’s care of the parks. Both the Walker-favoring editorial board and a letter writer have called Walker out on his poor leadership on this issue.
Why do you want us to pay higher taxes later. Maintenance is always the more responsible choice over having to replacing things before they need to be.
“Maintenance is always the more responsible choice over having to replacing things before they need to be.” – Does this count for schools too?
We don’t need higher taxes if budgeting is done right. If the previous administration wouldn’t have screwed us over with the pension and who knows what else, there is a very good chance that we wouldn’t be holding this conversation now. What the previous administration did is very much like what Doyle has done to Wisconsin. I am sure that is why he isn’t running again. He knew he going to get tossed out in the next election because of it. He just won’t admit it.
I don’t want higher taxes. I along with many many other are taxed enough!
The pension scandal was eight years ago. Walker promised to fix it, but then obstructed measures to get compensation from the law firm that approved of the deal, all for political purposes.
We are all sick of taxes. That is why this is a good thing, because it would give you property tax relief. Why don’t you want a tax break?
This is a lie! – “it would give you property tax relief”
First – It does not guarantee property tax relief.
Second – Even if it did lower property taxes, it would only be a shift in taxes being paid and not relief.
Third – Property taxes will still go up beyond what they are now.
From the actual bill:
Under current law, a county may impose a sales and use tax at the rate of 0.5 percent of the sales price of tangible personal property, goods, and services sold or used in the county. The county sales and use tax may be imposed only for the purpose of reducing the county’s property tax levy.
And unless you are in the habit of buying a lot of big ticket items each year, the table on show how much tax relief you would get by the whole sales tax.
And for your third point: you are correct. They will probably go above where they are now. Eventually. But nothing goes down for long does it? Look at all the tax cuts Big Oil gets, yet gas costs a dollar more per gallon than a year ago.
What you have quoted does not say that property taxes must go down for this to go through. It shows intent, but nothing else.
“I don’t want higher taxes. I along with many many other are taxed enough!”
Andy, I respect your opinion, but a majority of Milwaukee County voters disagreed with you when they voted in favor of the referendum to for a dedicated sales tax for parks, transit, etc.
I guess that is why this petition has only managed to get 158 names since August. At this pace, you might get to 0.5 of the people for votes for it by February of 2012.
The referendum vote has reached the point of being too long ago to be worth anything any more. If that isn’t clear, then I’ll rephrase that. It has passed its expiration date and needs to be tossed away for something else. If you are confident that this is the way people feel today, then you should have no problem in putting a fresh referendum on the ballot.
Until then, I’ll enjoy some T.E.A.
Andy,
That is only the electronic version of the petition. The hard copy as hundreds of signatures. Furthermore, MJS just reported yesterday that the transit referendum is coming up for a vote this week.
Keep spinning your wheels and you’ll only be in a rut.
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