Reports by issue topic
Government
Since 1913, the Public Policy Forum (formerly the Citizens Governmental Research Bureau) has been a watchdog of government in Milwaukee. We periodically analyze the spending and taxing behavior of 147 units of government in Southeastern Wisconsin, including the 84 villages and cities situated in seven counties – Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha.
| Budget Preview: 2011 Milwaukee County Budget |
July, 2010 |
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| full report |
| For the past several years, the Public Policy Forum has produced reports analyzing the Milwaukee County executive's recommended budget shortly after its introduction in late September. This year, we add a new research product to our analysis of Milwaukee County's fiscal condition: a budget preview report that analyzes the county's immediate fiscal challenges at the onset of its budget process.
The 2011 Milwaukee County Budget Preview not only provides perspective on the specific fiscal issues facing the county as it begins to assemble next year's budget, but also explores the consequences associated with the county's persistent budget gap. It finds that while the 2011 projected deficit of $44.9 million is considerably smaller than that faced by budget officials at a similar juncture last year, it is sizable nonetheless. Furthermore, the report illustrates how several successive years of budget-cutting have left the county with few easy options for 2011. |
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| Property Values and Taxes in Southeast Wisconsin |
July, 2010 |
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| full report |
| For the past several years, the Public Policy Forum has produced annual reports analyzing property values and property taxes within the seven-county southeast Wisconsin region. Our purpose is to shed light on an important indicator of regional economic health and how it impacts the fiscal health and capacity of local governments and school districts.
This year’s report first examines 2009 property values, with specific consideration of multi-year trends. We then analyze 2010 budgeted tax levies and tax rates of southeast Wisconsin counties and municipalities to explore the relationship between valuations and taxes.
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| Main Street Milwaukee: Program at a crossroads |
July, 2010 |
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| full report |
| The Main Street Milwaukee (MSM) Program is a highly touted economic development program designed to promote economic growth and revitalization in selected city neighborhoods. Milwaukee’s Main Street program is a partnership between the City of Milwaukee Department of City Development (DCD) and the local chapter of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), who have tailored the national Main Street program for use in six local districts. Established in 2005, MSM has been cited by city officials as a key component in the city’s overall economic and community development strategy.
This research project, which was launched in September 2009, originally set out to explore the strengths and weaknesses of several MSM districts in an effort to explore why this particular economic development strategy has succeeded or failed in different Milwaukee neighborhoods. Early in the analysis, however, we recognized that sufficient performance data did not exist to adequately assess that question in depth. Our attention turned, therefore, to the broader question of whether, why, and to what extent the MSM program itself has succeeded in delivering its anticipated results.
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| The People Speak Poll: Region’s residents give transportation infrastructure average grades |
June 25, 2010 |
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| research brief |
| Metro Milwaukee’s drivers and bus riders give the region average grades when it comes to transportation infrastructure. The condition of the region’s freeways gets the highest grade, a C+, while local streets and roads garner a
C-. The findings come from the latest People Speak poll of 386 residents in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee counties conducted in early June.
Ozaukee County residents give the most generous grades, while Waukesha County residents give the lowest. The broadest range of grades is given to local bus service, which rates Cs among Ozaukee and Milwaukee residents, but Ds among Washington and Waukesha residents. Survey respondents who ride the bus at least occasionally give their local bus service a higher grade than those who say they drive their car every day. Freeways rate highest among Ozaukee County residents and those respondents who work outside the home (commuters).
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| The People Speak Poll: Region's residents favor subsidies for water industry |
March 12, 2010 |
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| research brief |
| Greater Milwaukee residents show solid support for efforts to use the region's abundance of fresh water as an economic development tool, even if it means paying slightly more for their own water or using public subsidies to do so. That's according to the latest People Speak Poll of 429 residents in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee counties conducted in mid-February.
Nearly 70% of municipal water users participating in the poll would be willing to pay a small surcharge on their water bill "to fund economic development activities promoting southeast Wisconsin as a place for water-related research and economic growth." In addition, 65% of all respondents agree that government subsidies are "desirable to attract new or expanded water industries to southeast Wisconsin." More than 80% of respondents agree the region has the potential to become a global leader in the water technology industry.
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| Should It Stay or Should It Go? |
January, 2010 |
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| full report |
| Milwaukee County government faces immediate and substantial fiscal and programmatic challenges. The county’s structural deficit – defined as the gap between expenditure needs and anticipated revenues – is projected to grow from $48 million in 2011 to more than $106 million by 2014, despite several successive years of significant expenditure and staff reductions and anticipation of significant wage and benefit concessions in 2010. This projection is the clearest indication yet that the county’s finances are crumbling and that valued services in areas like parks, transit, mental health and public safety face severe degradation without prompt and concerted action. This action could take any of several forms, including the complete elimination of Milwaukee County government. This report, commissioned by the Greater Milwaukee Committee, provides detailed analysis and perspective on the complex issues surrounding that option, as well as other potential structural changes. |
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| The People Speak Poll: Tolls roads, rail find support across region |
November 17, 2009 |
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| research brief |
| At least 50% of residents in three of four metro Milwaukee counties say they are in favor of toll roads to fund transportation improvements, while an increase in the gas tax was favored by less than a quarter of residents in each county. High speed rail to Chicago and Madison is supported by majorities in three counties as well. Commuter rail was strongly supported in Milwaukee County.
The People Speak poll surveyed 433 residents of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, and Ozaukee Counties regarding their views on the economy, issues of importance to the region, and topical public policy issues. In general, the region's residents report optimism about the direction in which their neighborhoods and municipalities are headed, yet seem open to possible governance changes such as a regional parks authority. In addition, there is some support for new revenue streams such as user fees, provided that they reduce reliance on property taxes. |
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| The People Speak Poll: Milwaukee area citizens hurting, but optimistic about the future |
October, 2009 |
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| full report |
| Milwaukee area citizens are optimistic about their financial futures, yet a sizeable portion report having experienced financial difficulties in the past six months. The People Speak telephone survey of 433 residents of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, and Ozaukee Counties reveals that a third of the area's citizens have had problems paying their bills at some time during the past six months. Of those experiencing such problems, however, 59% report being somewhat or very optimistic about their financial future. Among the entire survey sample, 64% were optimistic about their financial future.
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| 12th annual comparative analysis of the Racine Unified School District |
October, 2009 |
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| full report |
| This is the 12th annual report on conditions affecting the Racine Unified School District (RUSD). This year, our analysis again focuses on the long-term historical trends in RUSD. The analysis compares RUSD data to data of nine peer school districts as well as statewide data. The peer districts are defined as those Wisconsin districts with enrollments most similar to the enrollment in Racine. In addition to enrollment trends, the findings pertain to three RUSD quality objective measures: operational efficiency, student engagement, and student achievement. Operational efficiency includes finance data, student engagement includes attendance and disciplinary data, while student achievement includes test scores and graduation rates.
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| Budget Brief: 2010 Proposed City of Milwaukee Budget |
October, 2009 |
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| full report |
| In the few weeks that have passed since the budget was introduced, and in the few weeks that will follow before budget adoption, a great deal of attention has and will be focused on the level of property taxation and fee increases proposed by the mayor, as well as the substantial cuts in positions and services that he argues are an undesirable yet necessary byproduct of the city's fiscal plight. While this focus is both necessary and appropriate, we suggest that another key area of focus should be whether, in attempting to respond to the unprecedented challenges facing the city in 2010, the mayor and his budget team have crafted solutions that not only address the short-term budgetary consequences wrought by recession, but also the longer term structural problems that have been building for years.
In this report, we highlight the major provisions of the budget document and critically evaluate their impact both upon city services and area residents. We also discuss some new program initiatives, and we consider how the 2010 budget impacts city finances in the long term. Our intent is to contribute to a more objective and informed debate on the City of Milwaukee's 2010 budget.
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