These stories being adjacent to each other makes it no more or less painful that some children have horrible lives, and sometimes, even worse, more horrible deaths.

Verona mother arrested in death of infant son

It’s too bad the second item would have done nothing to prevent the first. These stories really break my heart. I think that most any parent imagines these horrible things happening to their children when they read the article. It was really hard when I had my then-very young daughter, though it is still crushing to read of someone doing this by choice to a child of any age. And now that I have a young son, it’s a direct reminder of how fragile he is. I just can’t imagine why on earth anyone would do this. That’s the one time I think the death penalty is appropriate, although that would free them of having to live with the knowledge of what they did.

This builds on an earlier post of mine, in which I observed the speculation about the two groups coming together. What would happen if they did? Back in the United States, down in Memphis, Tennessee, that has happened. A local tea party people asked to meet with the local Occupy people. A “balanced” yet simultaneously cloudy view of the meeting came through this Associated Press article that was posted on Huffington Post. (In turn, I found it through Talking Points Memo.) The article sets it up as young Occupy vs. older tea party, and ostensibly non-professional college students vs. professional  or retired people.  And while it builds to think there was a mutual respect found between the two groups, it ends on a sour note from a tea partier.

I’m not even going to comment on it expect to post this:

MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD ADOPTS 2012 COUNTY BUDGET

Board works to craft a responsible 2012 County Budget

Milwaukee, WI - The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors adopted a 2012 County Budget at its Annual Meeting Monday evening. Board Chairman Lee Holloway released the following statement after the final budget was adopted:

“Even though we have a new County Executive, this budget reminded me of what we were handed in previous years. Because of the tax levy freeze, Supervisors were forced to do all the heavy lifting. In the end, we took a balanced approach in doing what’s best for Milwaukee County and its taxpayers.

“This budget is my last one as Chairman of the Board. I thank all Supervisors who put so much effort into this budget. In particular, I recognize the tireless efforts of Supervisor Johnny L. Thomas. He and his colleagues on the Finance & Audit Committee have done an admirable job under difficult circumstances.”

Total expenditures for 2012 are $1,301,923,862, a decrease of $726,269,759 from 2011. Under the adopted budget, the 2012 tax levy is $275,805,499, an increase of 2.3% over the 2011 levy of $269,554,701. Under this scenario, the owner of an average City of Milwaukee home would see the County portion of their property tax bill rise by approximately $3.

Rundown of 2012 Budget Amendments approved without objection:

(Click here for the full log of amendments voted upon)

17-2 (No: Cesarz, Rice) to deny the proposed consolidation of Labor Relations, the Personnel Review Board and the Ethics Board within the Department of Human Resources. (decreases tax levy by $29,690)

12-7 (No: Cesarz, De Bruin, Harris, Lipscomb, Rice, Sanfelippo, Thomas) to deny the transfer of the Courts’ Human Resources Manager from that department to the Department of Human Resources. 17-2 (No: Cesarz, Schmitt) to develop and implement a countywide policy that any contract greater than $1 million presented to the County Board shall be accompanied by a chart that lists the specific factors why that firm was selected compared to any other firm that competed for the business. 0-18-1 (Abstain: Thomas) (item fails) to create a separate and stand-alone Department of Comptroller and Finance, and retitle the positions of Controller and Deputy Controller to Comptroller and Deputy Comptroller. The position of Comptroller shall be appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Board, and shall be removable from office for cause with the concurrence of both the County Executive and a majority vote of the County Board, or by a two-thirds vote of the County Board. A number of other positions are transferred from DAS-Administration and Fiscal Affairs Division to the Department of Comptroller and Finance. The comptroller shall be a position in the classified service and shall have an employment contract duration of five years, commencing January 1, 2012 and which shall be renewable for additional five year terms upon approval from by the County Board and concurrence of the County Executive. (no tax levy impact)

15-4 (No: Cesarz, Rice, Sanfelippo, Schmitt) to decrease Register of Deeds revenues by $100,000 in order to implement a free birth certificate program for up to 5,000 individuals requiring the vital record in order to obtain identification to vote. (no tax levy impact) 17-2 (No: Borkowski, Cesarz) to restore 25 Deputy Sheriff 1 and 2 Deputy Sheriff Sergeant positions for the Tactical Enforcement Unit. (increases tax levy by $1,551,991)

15-4 (No: Borkowski, Cesarz, Rice, Sanfelippo) to delay the outsourcing for inmate medical and mental health services and begin planning for a mid-year transfer of this function to the Department of Health and Human Services. Contracting for inmate medical services is denied and funding is restored for all positions in the inmate medical unit. (increases tax levy by $1,320,531)

13-6 (Borkowski, Cesarz, Rice, Sanfelippo, Schmitt, Thomas) to deny the abolishment of 15 Park Maintenance Worker In Charge positions and create 15 Parks/Highway Maintenance Workers. (increases tax levy by $459,090) 14-4-1 (No: Borkowski, Cesarz, Rice, Schmitt; Abstain: Sanfelippo) to increase Paratransit fares by $0.75, rather than the $1.25 recommended by the County Executive. (increases tax levy by $458,000)

19-0 (No: Sanfelippo) to approve a substituted amendment that G4S Wackenhut will continue to provide transit security services for the Milwaukee County Transit System. (no tax levy impact) 13-6 (No: Borkowski, Cesarz, Jursik, Rice, Sanfelippo, Schmitt) to employ County security employees at secure designated security facilities, with the cost partially offset with the elimination of the current security contract. (increases tax levy by $418,183)

16-3 (No: Cesarz, Rice, Sanfelippo) to work with the Department of Audit to develop a method of collecting data on racial and gender breakdowns of all contractor employees working on Milwaukee County construction or maintenance projects. (no tax levy impact) 15-4 (No: Biddle, Haas, Harris, Weishan) to eliminate the contribution to the debt service reserve, conduct a countywide comprehensive facilities plan, and increase the Appropriation for Contingencies. (no tax levy impact)

15-4 (No: Borkowski, Johnson, Sanfelippo, Schmitt) to restore half of the $3 million Emergency Medical Services (EMS) subsidy to municipalities, disperse using a new distribution formula, and encourage municipalities to achieve functional consolidation. (increases tax levy by $1,500,000) 14-5 (No: Borkowski, Cesarz, Rice, Sanfelippo, Schmitt) to provide the Parks Department with $50,000 for parks cultural events programming which had previously been budgeted in the CAMPAC budget (increases tax levy by $50,000)

17-2 (No: Cesarz, Sanfelippo) to form a Workgroup to enter into discussions with the Hunger Task Force on the specifics of a lease arrangement that is beneficial to both parties. The proposed lease shall address all components of operating the farm and fish hatchery including, but not limited to, staffing, land utilization, commodity distribution and building maintenance and repair. (no tax levy impact)

14-5 (No: Borkowski, Cesarz, Rice, Sanfelippo, Thomas) to increase parks seasonal staff hours from 366,683 to 411,446 for an expenditure increase of $500,000. (increases tax levy by $500,000) 12-7 (No: Biddle, Cesarz, Lipscomb, Rice, Sanfelippo, Thomas, Weishan) to adopt policy that the tax levy for the Department of Parks for the next four years, 2013 thru 2016, shall not be less than the tax levy budgeted for this department in the 2012 adopted budget. (no tax levy impact)

16-3 (No: Cesarz, Rice, Sanfelippo) to decrease the proposed monthly employee premium for the family plan to $170 from $250, decrease the proposed office visit co-pay to $30 from $30, and decrease the annual out-of-pocket limit for preferred providers to $2,500 single/$5,000 family, from $3,000/$6,000 respectively, offset by a significant number of extra vacancies will occur at the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 due to benefit modifications (i.e. no more eligibility for Medicare

Part B reimbursement) that were approved earlier in 2011. To remain eligible for this benefit, employees must retire prior to January 1, 2012. (decreases tax levy by $388,761) 16-3 (No: Sanfelippo, Schmitt, Thomas) to restore the County’s 2012 tax levy contribution of $66,650 to the Milwaukee County Federated Library System. (increases tax levy by $9,998)

18-1 (No: Sanfelippo) to restore 85 percent of the CAMPAC (Cultural Artistic and Musical Programming Advisory Council) funds cut for 2012. (increases tax levy by $321,035)

Amendments to capital budget approved:

14-5 (No: Cesarz, Jursik, Rice, Sanfelippo, Schmitt) to develop “Ready to Work” career training and sustainable jobs within Milwaukee County in partnership with WTRP/BIG STEP, funded by $1,000,000 from future land sale revenues (2012 and beyond) for this initiative. For 2012, the first $400,000 of any land sale revenue is earmarked for the Real Estate Services Section in the Department of Economic Development. (no tax levy impact)

17-2 (No: Sanfelippo, Schmitt) to institute phase 2 of the legislative workflow and agenda management project, including streaming live audio/video of County Board and Committee meetings, offset by reduced reimbursement from the Employee Retirement System for Administrative Costs. (decreases tax levy by $57,200)

All other amendments in the blue packet were approved unanimously.

Budget Amendments approved after failing in Finance & Audit Committee (yellow packet):

13-6 (No: Borkowski, Broderick, Cesarz, Haas, Rice, Sanfelippo) to delete one position of IT Director – Business Development (decreases tax levy by $136,540) 17-2 (No: Cesarz, Mayo) to deny the abolishment of three Deputy Sheriff Lieutenant positions and leaving these positions unfunded. (no tax levy impact) 13-6 (No: Cesarz, De Bruin, Rice, Sanfelippo, Schmitt, Thomas) to undo the reverse the departmental transfers/realignment/reorganizations proposed for the Department of Transportation & Public Works, Facilities Management, Fleet Management, Transit/Paratransit, Highway Maintenance, Transportation Services. (no tax levy impact) 12-7 (No: Biddle, De Bruin, Harris, Mayo, Romo West, Thomas, Holloway) to remove budget language relating to proposed transit service reductions/eliminations should the County not receive federal CMAQ funding for transit. (no tax levy impact)

15-4 (No: Borkowski, Cesarz, Rice, Schmitt) to reduce detox funding by $100,000 rather than the $300,000 proposed by the County Executive. (increases tax levy by $200,000) 15-4 (No: Broderick, Jursik, Schmitt, Thomas) to establish a trust account to receive future years revenue from the broadcasting towers leased to the Hearst Corporation and Weigel Broadcasting, to be used for future maintenance of the Estabrook Dam, for improvements to recreational access of the upstream areas of the river, and uses approved by the County Board. (no tax levy impact)

11-8 (No: Borkowski, Cesarz, De Bruin, Jursik, Mayo, Rice, Sanfelippo, Schmitt) to issue a Request for Proposals for a wellness program that includes a health risk assessment with biometric screening, health coaching and quarterly follow-up contacts by health professionals. (increases tax levy by $370,913)

10-9 (No: Borkowski, Cesarz, De Bruin, Jursik, Lipscomb, Mayo, Rice, Schmitt, Holloway) to appropriate $2,000,000 to repair portions of the HVAC systems at the Martin Luther King Jr. and Kosciuszko Community Centers, with financing provided via general obligation bonding. (no tax levy impact)

All other Budget Amendments approved by the Finance & Audit Committee were approved with no objection. Click here for the complete list of amendments.

Separate from the Budget file, the Board also voted:

19-0 to approve Amendment No. 2, which accounts for personnel actions through November 3, 2011 not reflected in the County Executive’s Recommended Budget. 14-5 (No: Borkowski, De Bruin, Jursik, Mayo, Weishan) to approve ordinance related to County sales tax revenue

18-1 (No: Mayo) to approve ordinance related to the Office of the Sheriff – Parking regulations 11-8 (No: Borkowski, Broderick, De Bruin, Haas, Johnson, Mayo, Romo, Weishan) to approve ordinance related to admission charges/parking fees at the Zoo 16-3 (No: Broderick, Mayo, Thomas) to abolish ordinance relating to reimbursing non-represented County attorneys for continuing legal education and membership dues in the Wisconsin Bar Association

19-0 to approve the $822,915 special levy for Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.

12-7 to approve a 2012 Property Tax Levy of $275,805,499, a difference of $6,250,798 or 2.3% from 2011. 10-9 to approve the 2012 County Budget, as amended.

Supervisors who voted in favor of adopting the 2012 County Tax Levy (12-7):

Supervisors Eyon Biddle, Sr., Gerry Broderick, Marina Dimitrijevic, Lynne De Bruin, Jason Haas, Nikiya Q. Harris, Willie Johnson, Jr., Theodore Lipscomb, Peggy Romo West, Johnny L. Thomas, John F. Weishan, Jr., Chairman Lee Holloway

Supervisors who voted against:

Supervisors Mark Borkowski, Paul Cesarz, Patricia Jursik, Michael Mayo, Sr., Joseph Rice, Joe Sanfelippo, Jim “Luigi” Schmitt

Supervisors who voted in favor of adopting the 2012 County Budget (13-6):

Supervisors Eyon Biddle, Sr., Gerry Broderick, Lynne De Bruin, Marina Dimitrijevic, Jason Haas, Nikiya Q. Harris, Willie Johnson, Jr., Theodore Lipscomb, Michael Mayo, Sr., Peggy Romo West, Johnny L. Thomas, John F. Weishan, Jr., Chairman Lee Holloway

Supervisors who voted against:

Supervisors Mark Borkowski, Paul Cesarz, Patricia Jursik, Joseph Rice, Joe Sanfelippo, Jim “Luigi” Schmitt

The County Board will consider any vetoes from the County Executive, as it relates to the 2012 Budget, Wednesday, November 16th at 1:30 p.m. in Room 200 of the Milwaukee County Courthouse.

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• 12-7 (No: Borkowski, Cesarz, Johnson, Jursik, Rice, Sanfelippo, Schmitt) to lay over [emphasis added] the County Executive’s veto of a resolution providing for an advisory referendum on the plan by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District to pay approximately $41.1 million to the City of Franklin for the costs related to building the Ryan Creek Interceptor project.

• 16-3 (No: Borkowski, Cesarz, Rice) to override [emphasis added] the County Executive’s veto of a resolution to negotiate an agreement to fund an artistic bus shelter with the Bay View Business Improvement District.

• Referred back to Committee with no objection – to amend County Ordinances as it pertains to sick leave policies regarding sick allowance accrual and payout or credit at retirement.

• 18-1 (No: Sanfelippo) to approve an ordinance to govern the carrying of concealed weapons in Milwaukee County buildings, and to amend the schedule of cash deposits and maximum penalties.

• 18-1 (No: Borkowski) to adopt the Long-Range Lakefront Planning Committee’s Report for the development of Milwaukee’s lakefront.

• 12-7 (No: Biddle, Borkowski, Cesarz, Rice, Romo West, Sanfelippo, Holloway) to reject a resolution expressing intent to collaborate with the City of Milwaukee to utilize funds of $54.9 million to enhance Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) services.

• 14-5 (No: Cesarz, Jursik, Rice, Sanfelippo, Schmitt) to create an Economic Development Fund in order to develop sustainable jobs and new tax base in Milwaukee County.

• 13-5-1 (No: Borkowski, Cesarz, Jursik, Rice, Sanfelippo; Abstain: Thomas) to approve a resolution stating opposition to Assembly Bill 329 relating to changing the Milwaukee County Treasurer to an elected Comptroller position.

All other items on today’s agenda were approved with no objection. The complete digest agenda from today’s meeting can be found on the County Legislative Information Center.

The next meeting of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisor is the Budget Adoption meeting scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday, November 7, 2011, in Room 200 of the Milwaukee County Courthouse. The veto override session, if necessary, will be Wednesday, November 16, 2011.

The next regular meeting will be Thursday, December 15, 2011, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 200 of the Milwaukee County Courthouse.

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prepare a report including a cost benefit analysis of converting the currently deployed web, calendar, and email servers to an open source software platform. Open source software is commercial-grade software that is built through a peer-review process. It is usually much less expensive than traditional commercial software and, based on studies, more secure. Open source applications, including email, calendar and collaboration, have already been deployed at institutions such as the U.S. Department of Defense and UW-Milwaukee.

The study shall be a cost benefit analysis of converting to open source software. IMSD shall submit the report to the Committee on Finance and Audit for consideration no later than the June 2012 cycle.

This amendment would increase tax levy by $0.

Here’s what the finance committee looked at today:

Milwaukee County Transit/Paratransit System
• Amendment approved 6-0 to conduct an audit of the Milwaukee County Paratransit program to focus on fraud prevention and quality of service issues as well as any other concerns identified in the courthouse of the audit.
[Over a dozen fraudsters were nabbed the last time this was performed!
• Amendment approved 5-1 (No: Schmitt) to increase Paratransit fares by $0.75 rather than the $1.25 recommended by the County Executive.
• Amendment approved 4-2 (No: Mayo, Schmitt) to have the Office of the Sheriff administer the current contract with G4S Wackenhut for security on transit buses and the $920,000 appropriation for these services is budgeted in the Office of the Sheriff. The Sheriff is requested to manage transit security services and recommend changes to improve effectiveness.
• Amendment approved 6-0 to include, beginning in June 2012, driver safety shield installation on all new Milwaukee County Transit System bus purchase specifications. Milwaukee County shall seek grant funding for the installation of safety shields for existing transit fleet vehicles. [Emphasis added.]
• Amendment approved 5-1 (No: Thomas) to continue a pilot program for designated stroller areas on transit buses. Additionally, MCTS will work with the Office of the Sheriff to enforce Chapter 63, in that no non-service animals or specified weapons are allowed on any transit fleet vehicles in order to maximize passenger/driver safety.

DAS – Facilities Management
• Amendment approved 6-0 to work with the Department of Audit to develop a method of collecting data on racial and gender breakdowns of all contractor employees working on Milwaukee County construction or maintenance projects.
• Amendment approved 3-2 (No: De Bruin, Schmitt) to employ County security employees at secure designated security facilities, with the cost partially offset with the elimination of the current security contract.
• Amendment approved 5-0 (Excused: Mayo) to eliminate the contribution to the debt service reserve, conduct a countywide comprehensive facilities plan, and increase the Appropriation for Contingencies.

Federated Library System
• Amendment approved 4-2 (No: Schmitt, Thomas) to restore the County’s 2012 tax levy contribution of $66,650 to the Federated Library System. [An increase of some $9,000 on the tax levy.]

Parks
• Amendment approved 6-0 to form a Workgroup to enter into discussions with the Hunger Task Force on the specifics of a lease arrangement that is beneficial to both parties. The proposed lease shall address all components of operating the farm and fish hatchery including, but not limited to, staffing, land utilization, commodity distribution and building maintenance and repair. [I co-sponsored this amendment.]
• Amendment approved 5-1 (No: Thomas) to increase seasonal parks staff hours from 366,683 to 411,446. [I'll check on the tax levy implications of this.]
• Amendment approved 4-2 (No: Schmitt, Thomas) to deny the abolishment of 15 FTE Park Maintenance Worker in Charge positions and create 15 FTE Parks/Highway Maintenance Workers.

• • •

Tomorrow’s budget hearing will be on the county sheriff’s office and the  Behavioral Health Division. Also, I have my budget town hall at the Wilson Park Senior Center that night at 6:00.

Wednesday’s meeting is on Employee Fringe Benefits (which are often now worse than those at a private employer), Land Sales, and the Dept. of Administrative Services.

Thursday’s hearing will be for discussion of Finance and Audit Committee’s amendments and recommended tax levy, State Exempt Computer Aid, if necessary, and the Property Taxes Budget, as Amended.

Monday October 31 is the county board public hearing on the County Executive’s 2012 Recommended Budget. At this meeting, the public does all the speaking, and we listen. This will be at the Washington Park Senior Center, 4420 West Vliet Street.

The final Committee on Finance and Audit Budget Hearing will be on Wednesday, November 2, 2011, at 9:30 a.m.

Here’s the remaining 2012 budget schedule (PDF).

We meet on Monday, November 7 to hammer out the final version, and hopefully pass it before the day turns into night and the night into day. But even then, it’s not over! We meet again on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. for possible veto overrides. I guarantee you Abele is going to try to keep the budget as flat as Walker. We’ll see how it all turns out.

COUNTY BOARD 2012 BUDGET BLAST: OCTOBER 17, 2011

Milwaukee, WI – The Milwaukee County Board’s Finance & Audit Committee is holding a series of public meetings throughout October on the

County Executive’s 2012 Recommended Budget

Each day, the Committee reviews a number of specific departments and items in the budget. Today, the Committee reviewed the following budgets:

• Milwaukee County Transit/Paratransit System – Amendment approved 5-1 (No: Thomas) to increase the commuter value pass premiums by $6 per quarter

This would raise the cost to $201, if I am not mistaken.There was questioning of why the most dedicated riders would be stuck with the sole cost increase. Also, many paratransit riders and their advocates came to talk about how difficult a steep increase in the paratransit fare would be for them.

• Civil Air Patrol

• DOT – Airport

• DOT – Highway Division

• DOT – Transportation Services

• DOT – Fleet Management

• DOT – Director’s Office

• DAS – Facilities Management

I believe the county security guards fell under this segment. They are slated to be replaced by contracted security guars from Wackenhut Services. I made a request for information on the turnover rate of Wackenhut employees working in County facilities. There is a small chance that these jobs will not be privatized. But if we don’t do that, where would the projected $100,000 savings come from? As Supervisor Romo West noted, it seems that privatizations save money in the first year, but cost more in the second year and thereafter. I do want to see more than anecdotal evidence of this, and at the same time, I do not support the privatization of these or other jobs.

• DAS – Architectural, Engineering and Environmental Services

• DAS – Water Utility

The Committee will continue its review of budgets and consideration of amendments throughout October in Room 203-R of the Milwaukee County Courthouse.

Click here to access the 2012 budget meeting schedule

Click here to listen to live audio from the meetings

(available while meetings are in progress)

Click here to access the Budget Overview presented by County Board Staff

The County Board of Supervisors, under the leadership of Chairman Lee Holloway, will adopt the 2012 Budget on Monday, November 7 at 8:30 a.m. in Room 200 of the Milwaukee County Courthouse.

The County Board’s annual Public Hearing on the 2012 Budget is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Monday, October 31 at the Washington Park Senior Center, located at 4420 W. Vliet Street in Milwaukee.

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Milwaukee County
Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic, 4th District
Supervisor Patricia Jursik, 8th District
Supervisor Jason Haas, 14th District

For Immediate Release October 17, 2011
Contact: Harold Mester, Public Information Manager
414/278-4051 or harold.mester@milwcnty.com

SUPERVISORS TO HOST INFORMATIONAL MEETING
ON PROPOSED EXPRESS BUS SERVICE

Express Route 15 proposed for south side, south shore and airport area

Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee County Supervisors Marina Dimitrijevic, Patricia Jursik and Jason Haas will host an information session regarding the changes to Route 15 and the proposed express bus service included in the County Executive’s 2012 Recommended Budget.

The proposed Express Route 15 would impact Milwaukee’s south side, other south shore communities, and General Mitchell International Airport. The proposal also includes changes to the current Route 15.

In addition to the Supervisors, representatives from the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) will be on hand to present detailed information and answer questions from the public.

Supervisors Marina Dimitrijevic, Patricia Jursik and Jason Haas

Information session on Route 15/proposed express bus service
Monday, October 24, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Bay View Library (accessible from MCTS Route 15)
2566 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue, Milwaukee

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Route 15 is important to me. I ride the bus, along with tens of thousands of people. I want to make sure that they can continue to use it.