Reversal of Fortune

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As it did last year, the Milwaukee County Board voted to restore aspects of the county budget which would have severely cut personnel and funding for the circuit court.

By a 17-2 vote at its Nov. 5 meeting, the board approved an amendment which reinstated 15 combined court related operations positions and an increase to the tax levy of more than $876,000.

“I was pleased that the full board kept the restorations made by the audit committee, although there were a couple of other unfilled positions that they voided,” said District 1 Chief Judge Kitty K. Brennan. “I’m a pragmatic person and we’ll do the best we can with what we’ve got.”

The most significant restoration according to Brennan, were all nine law clerks which had been abolished in County Executive Scott Walker’s proposal.

Brennan had previously noted that the law clerks provide an invaluable service to help expedite cases in a timely manner at an affordable price. She also stated that if the clerk positions were eliminated, she would have appointed bailiffs to handle the workload in civil court at a cost of $90,000 per position, compared to $48,000 for each clerk.

Also restored by the board were two Deputy County Clerk Judicial Assistants and two clerical assistants in the Misdemeanor/Traffic Division at a combined cost of approximately $270,000. Two clerical assistants in the Register in Probate Division were also restored, but would remain unfunded as they were this year.

Three other court related positions — two clerical assistants and a part-time family court commissioner —– were not restored, but are also currently vacant.

“There are five positions which are currently vacant, so it’s not like anybody is losing their job,” said Brennan. “The bottom line is the loss of the additional positions won’t effect current staffing levels, but will effect money we receive for vacancy and turnover.”

Walker said the restorations were not unexpected in light the audit committee’s recommendation, but that the strong support from the board would not necessarily restrict his veto pen.

“That will have no impact on my decision, but there are other options to just a strict veto,” said Walker, who did not rule out reinstituting some of the court staff cuts. “It’s a possibility, but I’ll have to review all of the board’s amendments. I’ll try to keep as much as I can in the court’s budget.”

Walker said he will also have to account for the $2 million in expected state funding for the Milwaukee County courts, which was ultimately excluded from Wisconsin’s budget.

“It’s a huge concern for us and another example of the state shorting its responsibility to fund the state court system,” said Walker.

Brennan shared the county executive’s frustration with the state, but was optimistic that the county board’s restorations would survive.

“It’s certainly a solid enough number, so I hope all those votes stick with the court when the board takes it up again on Nov. 14,” said Brennan.

Two Opposed

County Supervisors Lynn De Bruin (15th District) and Mark A. Borkowski (11th District) voted in opposition of the personnel restorations.

Brennan expressed disappointment in De Bruin’s “lack of respect for the courts,” but was not surprised by Borkowski’s.

“Mark has not ever supported courts,” said Brennan.

De Bruin could not be reached for comment, but Borkowski, who voted against adoption of the amended budget, said his opposition had nothing to do with the courts, but rather the tax levy increase associated with the restorations and other “big-ticket” inclusions.

“My edict was loud and clear from my constituents: no tax increase,” said Borkowski.

“Quite frankly, I had to vote against things I hated to vote against simply because I didn’t want to take the easy way out and vote for all the uppers and then vote against the budget.”

By a 14-5 vote, the board adopted the $1.34 billion budget, which would increase the overall tax levy by approximately $9 million.