Kremers gets first taste of budget talks as chief

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When Judge Jeffrey A. Kremers put in for the chief judge position in District 1, he knew exactly what season was about to begin, and it has nothing to do with Brett Favre or the Packers.

During his first day on the job Sept. 8, Kremers acclimated himself to the 2009 budget process with an afternoon meeting with County Executive Scott Walker and other county staff.

Though he admitted to not having the same breadth of knowledge on the subject as his predecessor, Judge Kitty K. Brennan, Kremers expects to be a quick study.

“Since I’ve been deputy chief for the last three years, I’ve been part of administrative meetings and am certainly familiar with our budgets that have been proposed,” said Kremers, who occasionally filled in for Brennan during budget meetings.

Whether Kremers’ prior experience will translate to smooth negotiations with Walker and the Milwaukee County Board remains to be seen, as Brennan routinely fought to maintain funding and staff for the system during her three-year tenure as chief.

Walker is optimistic that this year could be different, given that he anticipates approving a “several million dollar” tax levy increase for circuit court operations in 2009. The court’s proposal calls for a $2 million increase to the tax levy, from $36.7 million this year to $38.7 in 2009.

At the same time, Walker said the county and court officials need to fill a $2 million gap due to a lack of state funding that did not come through this year.

“We’ll be looking at some different options to fill that hole,” said Walker, who will submit his budget proposal on Sept. 25.

Until then, Kremers, who joined the court in 1992, said he will focus on filling his two chief deputy positions and appointing his replacement as presiding judge in the Felony Division.

He did not indicate whether Judge Mel Flanagan, who served as the other deputy chief to Brennan, would continue to serve in that capacity. He also declined to speculate on which of the 12 judges in the Felony Division would be named presiding judge or who would replace him in that division.

“Anyone of them could be a candidate, but to a certain extent, it depends on who is interested,” said Kremers, who planned to make the appointments within the next week.

“It’s a lot of extra work.”

Milwaukee Bar Association President Maria S. Lazar said she hoped one of Kremers’ first public appearances will be at the State of the Courts luncheon on Oct. 29.

Traditionally, the chief judge updates the local legal community on the status of the county courts and plans for the future. Lazar said she is still working with Kremers to fit the luncheon into his calendar.

Kremers will initially serve as chief judge through July 21, 2009, completing Brennan’s second two-year term. He said the Supreme Court will reevaluate the position next spring and decide whether a new chief will be appointed to a new two-year term.

“My plan is to remain chief judge, but that is up to the Supreme Court,” said Kremers.