Walker’s veto nixed

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After trading verbal blows for several weeks, the Milwaukee County Board delivered the knockout re-sponse to County Executive Scott Walker’s counterpunches over the 2007 budget on Nov. 15.

By a 14-5 count, the Board overrode Walker’s veto of the entire budget, including an estimated $5 million restoration by the Board for public safety.

“The 14 Supervisors who voted to override the County Executive’s veto of the county budget should be commended for their leadership,” said Milwaukee County Circuit Court Chief Judge Kitty K. Brennan.

“They did the hard work of carefully fashioning a budget to address the needs of the Courts and all of the County Departments.”

While the 15-round battle over the budget included numerous points of contention, including parks funding, labor agreements and health care, public safety was publicly cited as a top priority in 2007 by Board members.

At the Nov. 6 meeting, the Board voted 17-2 to restore 11 bailiffs, 31 Sheriff’s Department positions and $2 million in funding to the district attorney’s office.

“In my 14 years on the Board, this was the biggest gut of law enforcement by any county executive,” stated Lynne DeBruin, Supervisor for the 15th District at the meeting on Nov. 15. “Restoring public safety measures was a top priority for the board.”

Walker elected to reject the entire budget, rather than line-item veto measures he opposed. Though he was not expected to contest restorations to public safety, court operations or the sheriff’s department, Walker had cut funding and staffing in his original budget proposal.

“The County Executive’s veto of the whole budget left the Courts and the County with nothing and only a few weeks to come up with something,” said Brennan. “By vetoing the entire budget, including the Court’s Public Safety Amendment, the County Executive demonstrated that he is not concerned with public safety, commerce or the public’s access to their courts. That is disappointing, especially in the light of the two County Audits of the Courts which clearly show the Court’s need for proper funding and bailiffs.”

Had the County Board voted to uphold Walker’s veto, the two sides would have had seven days to construct a new budget plan, an option many believed to be improbable.

“We agreed with the County Executive on 99.9 percent of the budget and for him to veto the entire budget was irresponsible,” said Ryan P. McCue, Supervisor for the 8th District. “I’ve taken the calls from people who want to feel safe, want sheriffs in the parks, want the district attorney to prosecute cases and want the courts open on the weekend.”

In a statement from his office, Walker said “It’s their budget now,” in reference to the Board’s decision. “Despite my disagreement with the Board, the professionals in my administration will work to implement the County Board budget for 2007.”

Brennan considered the decision a victory for public safety, but noted she will continue to campaign for increased levels of court security.

“I say that even though the Public Safety Amendment, which included Courts did not give the Courts everything I thought we needed,” said Brennan. “In fact I thought it was $1.2 million short of our needs. But at least the Board of Supervisors took several months to listen, read and decide. Their decision was a reasonable compromise.”