County Executive Falk Introduces “Shared Sacrifices” 2010 Budget
October 01, 2009
Joshua Wescott, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 669-5606
New Efficiencies, Painful Cuts Preserve Public Safety, Critical Human Services in Midst of Historic National Economic Recession
In the midst of the worst national economic recession in decades, resulting in historic losses in revenue the county normally receives to fund vital services, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk introduced her 2010 budget today. Through a series of painful cuts, shared sacrifice, and new efficiencies, Falk’s budget prevents deeper human services reductions, at a time when people are most in need, while enhancing the county’s commitment to public safety.
Human services and public safety (Sheriff’s Department, Public Safety Communications, and District Attorney) comprise nearly 70% of the funding in Falk’s budget.
“Budgeting is tough when times are this tough but by moving forward in the spirit of shared sacrifice, with good reason to believe the economic obstacles before us today are temporary, this budget helps our county weather this storm without compromising the values we share,” Falk said. “Instead of radically cutting everything our citizens expect from county government – safe roads and communities and healthy and vibrant families—my budget protects these priorities when people need services the most.”
Dramatic declines in local consumer spending along with slowing real estate sales and development, and reduced income from county investments due to low interest rates combine to create a nearly $10-million dollar hole in the budget. A nearly $4-million reduction in state funding next year along with a combined $6.5-million increase in health insurance, Workers Compensation, and the Wisconsin Retirement System created additional challenges in preparing the more than $490-million budget.
“To address these shortfalls and preserve vital services, I’m asking everyone—myself included -- to be part of the solution,” Falk said. “We’re at the bargaining table with our dedicated team of county employees –our highway workers, our nurses, our dispatchers, our sheriff’s deputies--asking all of us county employees, including elected officials, to take a 3% pay cut for next year and I’m hopeful we will reach successful conclusions to that bargaining.”
Falk noted those personnel savings would total $4.7-million for next year and prevent the need for around 100 layoffs. This amount represents a wage reduction of approximately 3% for county employees for 2010 and follows a 5% pay reduction county employees already agreed to for the second half of the 2009.
Despite those savings and cost cutting measures, including the elimination or defunding of 25 vacant county positions, and new efficiencies, the budget calls for a levy increase exceeding Falk’s normal self-imposed formula. That formula has successfully capped property tax increases in past budgets and is determined by population growth and inflation.
That formula this year (an increase of only 1.19%) would have resulted in $7.9-million more in budget cuts than already proposed. That would have prevented any increases from happening in the public safety departments -- Sheriff, 911, and District Attorney – budgets that have almost $2-million in new operating budget funding, and the more than $1.6-million Falk added to ensure Dane County continues to have the most comprehensive human services in the state.
Falk’s $490-million total budget is $3-million less than last year (.5% decline). The operating budget increases by 1.9%. The budget calls for a levy increase of 7.9%. For the owner of an average-priced Madison home (valued at approximately $245,000) the county share of property taxes will increase by about $38. The tax rate increases 18-cents, or 7.59%, from $2.37 to $2.55 per thousand of assessed value.
“I’ll be the first to say I’m not one bit comfortable with this levy increase but using the formula would have resulted in painful cuts to public safety and human services that are unacceptable to me,” Falk said. “Property taxes hit people hard and I will not approve a budget that comes back to me with an increase higher than what I’ve proposed. However, given the high demand for services for families, kids, seniors, and the disabled, in the midst of this Great Recession, turning them away at a time when they need the help the most, is not the right option,” she said.
HUMAN SERVICES
Falk’s budget adds more than $1.6-million in spending to the over $230-million human services budget proposed to her. The bulk of that increase goes to reducing the cut proposed to human services providers.
Falk’s plan also secures state funding from the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program to create four new full-time Economic Support Specialists to bolster efforts to provide Emergency Assistance to families in severe financial crisis. This will help address increasing caseloads seen during the current economic recession.
The budget also leverages for the first time about $500,000 in federal dollars to operate a new mental health crisis stabilization center. This 24-hour facility will offer community-based treatment, at less cost to taxpayers than current alternatives, and reduce use of hospital emergency rooms for those with the most severe mental health crises.
In addition, there’s $50,000 to staff a new group home to serve patients who suffer from both mental illnesses and developmental disabilities. Combined, these new initiatives will reduce the nearly $3.5-million currently spent each year on having these individuals treated at the more expensive state Mendota Mental Health Institute.
“From the hundreds of letters, e-mails, and calls I receive, to the several hundred people who took the time to come to hearings on the human services budget a couple of weeks ago, it’s clear the work we do for our vulnerable citizens is valued and appreciated,” Falk noted.
More than $31,000 is also added to restore proposed cuts for suicide prevention efforts coordinated by the Safe Communities Coalition ($9,547), United Asian Services’ minority outreach program (12,000), and the Dane County Youth Commission ($10,000).
PUBLIC SAFETY
Falk’s more than $66-million total budget for the Sheriff’s Department is an increase of nearly $3.5-million for 2010. Included are a number of important upgrades for the Law Enforcement Training Center near Waunakee, 20 new squad cars and sheriff’s vehicles, and a new boat for the Dane County Lakes Patrol. These upgrades alone total more than $708,000 in new funding. The budget boosts funding for body armor and munitions (nearly $27,000 more) and covers the increased costs of providing medical services and purchasing food for the jail (more than $355,000 combined).
Important upgrades for the Public Safety Communications (911) Center are kept on target by Falk’s budget. The largest single expense in the 2010 county budget is $12-million for ongoing work to construct a brand-new interoperable emergency radio communications network that will, for the first time, seamlessly link public safety and public works officials across the county. $2-million is also in the budget to finish work on implementing a new Computer Aided Dispatch or CAD system that serves as a vital computer link between the 911 Center and public safety officials across the county.
HIGHWAYS/LAKES AND LANDS
Falk’s budget has over $2.25-million for the county’s share of a number of important highway improvement projects slated to take place in 2010. These projects total over $4.5 million (difference funded by state and federal governments) and include work on County Highway A between Highways 14 and MM, Highway MM between Oregon and Brooklyn, County Highway K north of Middleton between Highways M and Q, County Highway MN near McFarland, Highway JG near Mount Horeb, and replacement of the Yahara River Bridge on County Highway B. In addition, there’s also $1-million for planning work to review possible upgrades for the Highways M and S intersection on Madison’s westside. Additional road improvement work will be done next year on County Highway KP between Mazomanie and Cross Plains and County Highway MS (University Avenue) between Segoe Road and Shorewood Boulevard. These last two projects will be done exclusively with state and federal dollars.
Some of the most painful budget reductions for 2010 will temporarily affect important efforts to protect the county’s natural treasures. While significant investments are still proposed for the Conservation Fund and Land and Water Legacy Funds, funding for these efforts is being reduced by a combined $6.5 million from 2009 funding levels.
The Conservation Fund, proposed at $2.5-million for 2010, is the lowest since county residents passed a referendum authorizing its creation ten years ago. Funding for the Land and Water Legacy Fund, which is used to reduce flooding problems and improve water quality, is proposed at $1-million.
Falk’s budget does include one key new initiative aimed at improving water quality. $450,000 in new funding will help the county enforce manure run-off regulations and satisfy state requirements that call for landowners to receive funding assistance with whatever steps need to be taken to stop water pollution.
PROCESS
Falk’s budget now goes to the County Board for review and action. County committees will begin work on the budget this month and then it will go to the full board for action, likely in November. Falk can then approve, veto, or partially veto the budget approved by the board. Final action on the budget is expected before Thanksgiving.
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