By Larry Sandler
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee aldermen Friday scaled back some of the cuts that Mayor Tom Barrett sought in police and firefighter staffing, but a veto override battle could still lie ahead on the issue.
Acting on the 2010 city budget, the Common Council narrowly voted to reduce unpaid furloughs for police officers from the four days that Barrett recommended to one day, and to shut down one firefighting company, instead of the two that Barrett proposed. To do that, the council raised the night parking permit fee from $44 to $55 a year, the first increase since 1950.
But those moves, championed by Ald. Bob Donovan, are under the most scrutiny for possible line-item vetoes, Barrett said.
The mayor didn’t directly threaten to veto the night parking fee increase or the public safety staffing changes. But Ald. Michael Murphy, chairman of the council’s Finance & Personnel Committee, predicted a veto. Murphy said the council could have mustered a veto-proof majority for saving both firefighting companies and keeping the number of police furlough days at the two recommended by his panel.
One effect of Donovan’s move will be to cut firefighter overtime even more than Barrett proposed, knocking two fire companies out of service on a rotating basis each day, instead of one, budget director Mark Nicolini said. Donovan said the rotating “brownouts” would be better than eliminating a fire company because the cuts would be spread around the city.
No police officers or firefighters will be laid off.
Donovan’s amendment passed 8-7, with Aldermen Jim Bohl, Joe Davis Sr., Joe Dudzik, Robert Puente, Jim Witkowiak, Terry Witkowski, Tony Zielinski and Donovan voting for it. Council President Willie Hines Jr. and Aldermen Bob Bauman, Milele Coggs, Ashanti Hamilton, Nik Kovac, Willie Wade and Murphy were opposed.
The entire $1.44 billion budget was approved 13-2, with Bohl and Zielinski opposed. Both failed in attempts to increase cuts in spending.
Aldermen trimmed just $1,366 from Barrett’s proposed $247.4 million property tax levy, a 4.4% increase from this year. That held the property tax rate at his recommended $8.90 per $1,000 assessed valuation, up from this year’s $8.09.
Counting all local governments, the combined tax rate for Milwaukee homeowners is expected to rise from $24.03 to $25.97 per $1,000 assessed valuation, depending on final budget action Monday by the County Board, line-item vetoes by Barrett and County Executive Scott Walker and possible overrides, according to figures compiled by City Comptroller W. Martin “Wally” Morics. Falling property values pushed up tax rates, particularly for the city and public schools.
Barrett’s budget was focused on plugging a $90 million shortfall created by falling pension fund investment values, rising employee benefit costs and a cut in state shared revenue.
Other budget highlights:
Fees: Aldermen raised the solid-waste fee from $150.48 to $170.16 a year for the average homeowner, 12 cents less than Barrett recommended. The council backed Barrett’s proposals to raise the sewer fee from $86 to $95, and the storm-water fee from $47 to $56, but cut the snow-and-ice fee from $35 to $30, all per year for the average homeowner.
City employees: Depending on contract negotiations, wages would be frozen for most employees, in addition to four unpaid furlough days that amount to a 1.5% pay cut. Early retirement incentives will trim the workforce.
Both the furloughs and the pay freeze will include elected officials, the second year of no raises for Barrett and aldermen. But aldermen defeated a move to halve their transportation allowances, from $354 to $177 a month.
Police: Overtime will be sliced and 100 vacant officers’ jobs eliminated, but federal aid will pay for hiring another 50 officers. The council cut the Safety Division staff from six to two, instead of eliminating it as Barrett proposed.
Fire Department: The council backed Barrett’s recommendation to reduce ladder truck crews from five firefighters to four in the last eight ladder companies that still have five-member crews, ending a six-year battle over crew sizes. No firefighters will be furloughed and no firehouses will be closed. Aldermen reduced the arson squad from three officers to one but defeated a move to eliminate the job of spokeswoman Tiffany Wynn.
Public works: The council rejected Barrett’s plan to end regular pickup of large items and add a second “clean and green” pickup period. Recycling will be picked up once every three weeks, up from once a month now. The city will boost spending to repair streets, alleys and sidewalks.
Library: Neighborhood libraries will be open only 35 hours a week, down from 45 to 56 now, except for the federally funded Center Street Library.
Copyright 2009 Journal Sentinel Inc.