Parks advocates set sights on transportation tax

A strapped government sometimes pits good groups against each other. This week, there is a battle between people who probably agree more often than not.

Jim Goulee of the Park People crafted an e-mail calling for the preservationists to quickly call their legislators to make sure that a half-percent tax increase doesn't just go for Regional Transportation Authorities, but that lawmakers put another half-percent tax increase for the county parks.

"It has recently become apparent that transit advocates have successfully gotten the ear of many state legislators and are pushing them to advance a half percent sales tax for a wider RTA only," Goulee said.

"It seems that they have forsaken our beleaguered parks and are gaining support for budget legislation that would close the door to sales tax support for the Milwaukee County Park System."

The Park People point out that county residents approved a referendum last fall stating that funding for parks, transit, emergency medical services and culture be shifted off of the property tax levy, creating both property tax relief and a designated source of funding to avoid service cuts.
 
The additional .5 percent sales tax increase to fund a Regional Transit Authority enabling the creation of the KRM line was a recommendation the Governor included in his budget.
 
The Park People are asking our legislature to act upon the will of the people of Milwaukee County.

Dome Day Afternoon -- and Evening: After more than a decade in power, Republicans are getting a taste of what happens when your party is not in charge of the state legislature.

The budget process has certainly brought that out since the Dems full takeover of the Dome last fall. Most of the budget is being decided by the Democratic Party caucus behind closed doors, and we're seeing interesting legislation sliding into the budget bill, such as changing the limits on lawsuit settlements. A recent Joint Finance Committee had Republicans whining that they weren't included in the process and that some of the proposed legislation should be settled as separate bills.

"It's another case of having special clearance to get through the door," commented state Rep. Robin Vos (R-Racine), who is talking about changes proposed to state school voucher laws.

One such provision, cited by the Wisconsin Property Taxpayers Inc., would have exempted certain non-profit housing projects, including high-end retirement residences, from property taxes. Estimates indicate the move would cost Milwaukee $8 million, along and $24 million spread over the rest of the state. State Assembly members dropped the provision into a bill late in the evening, of course.

As state Rep. Phil Montgomery said, "Show us who came to you with this stuff" referring to which lobbyists have the ear of the Democrats in their budget-writing largess. Montgomery even pointed out than one memo written by Joint Finance Committee Co-Chair Mark Pocan (D-Madison) focused on teacher negotiations with local school districts as "the WEAC plan."

Water Works: Water is always newsworthy around here, it seems. The suburbs want Milwaukee to share Lake Michigan water and the city questions whether or not doing so will increase competition for industrial business, as well as pollution and water table issues.

Now there's of the city leasing the rights for a private entity to run the Water Works for 99 years. And there's a group with a catchy name organizing to squelch the idea -- Keep Public Our Water! (KPOW!) The group ha scheduled a rally for 12:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St.

State Rep. Fred Kessler (D-Milwaukee) has said he will introduce legislation to prevent leasing or selling the Water Works. "Milwaukee Water Works has become a tremendous success under the ownership and control of the public," said Kessler. "I understand Milwaukee's budgetary problems and I could support sensible measures to use a portion of Water Works' revenue to ameliorate them. But even in view of the city's fiscal problems, it would be a grave mistake to turn over this great resource to a for-profit company."

More About Booze in the Park: The East Town Association and its liquor issues vaulted back into the political arena last week. The Association runs the immensely popular Jazz in the Park concert series during the summer. It wants the city to give it a blanket exception to selling liquor outside all year -- known as an extension of premises -- instead of having to have one for each event. The extension cost $75 per event.

Ald. Milele Coggs said the $75 isn't that much and the city needs the money.

Kate Borders, executive director of the association, told the committee that Jazz in the Park is not a profitable event, but it does contributes money to the city in other ways. She says that if the event continues to not make a profit or break even, it will probably not continue.

Jazz in the Park has been in the news of late after being informed that state law prevents people from carrying in booze and that local police will be their to enforce it. The East Town Association also recently testified in favor of a proposal to change that law, but wanted to reserve the right to still ban carry-ins. The Licenses Committee tabled the measure with Ald. Nick Kovak voting against delaying it.

Another Recall: The folks at Citizens for Responsible Government apparently aren't overreaching in their effort to recall Gov. Jim Doyle and have now announced an attempt to recall state Sen. Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa).

"We are standing up for freedom and liberty. Like so many years ago, the movement has started in the taverns, by the common folks who work, live and die the American way, and has spread throughout the our communities," goes the lofty statement from CRG regulars Bill Savage and Orville Seymer.

World Wide Walker: Scott Walker is casting a wide net on the Internet in his quest for the statehouse. He's opened his "official online campaign center" at MyScottSpot.org. He's also on Facebook and has another Web presence with a more formal approach.