Treatment Programs Save Lives
January 9, 2008
In key vetoes, Walker:
• Revived most of his parks cuts, for a net savings of $2.8 million. That means laying off 50 parks maintenance workers and hiring more seasonal help as replacements. He left intact some $648,000 extra for parks improvement projects added by the board.
• Trimmed $2.4 million from court operations, though he spared nine law intern jobs he had earlier tried to abolish. The court funding cut could force trims that Chief Judge Kitty Brennan views as unacceptable. Eliminating weekend criminal intake court or small claims court would be considered if the board fails to override Walker’s veto, said Brennan.
• Shot down several increases for drug and alcohol programs, saying the county couldn’t afford to provide property tax funding to make up for cuts in state and federal aid. Walker said it was important to hold the line on local increases in those instances.
Walker’s vetoes also eliminated a $1 million affordable housing fund; a $188,000 temporary aid program for disabled people; and a $150,000 program to provide educational and recreational activities for youth.
He also cut funding for the House of Correction farm and fish hatchery and the University of Wisconsin Extension program. Those vetoes, if upheld, would kill the programs. The board has consistently overridden similar previous attempts.
If you also blame Scott Walker for draconian budget cuts, please call him at 414-278-4211 and demand that he change his policies.
