A few weeks ago, the Public Policy Forum published its analysis of the state of Milwaukee’s finances. The nonpartisan research group found that, in general, the city was on sound fiscal footing, though potential challenges lay ahead.
Now, the forum has followed up that analysis with a review of the recently proposed budgets from both the city of Milwaukee and the county. The Milwaukee County budget proposal made news when the county executive proposed a new $60 vehicle registration fee. But Rob Henken, president of the Public Policy Forum, says this fee was really inevitable.
"I don't think that people should be surprised," says Henken. "The county's structural deficit has been a problem for years. They've been able to find various one-time fixes and ways out of it, to avoid this type of revenue increase and drastic reductions in terms of services. But in this budget, it finally came home to roost."
