Budget Blasts 10/16

From the office of Supervisor Elizabeth Coggs:

The Milwaukee County Board’s Finance & Audit Committee,under the leadership of Supervisor Elizabeth M. Coggs, is holding publicmeetings throughout the month of October on the County Executive’s 2009Recommended County Budget. Each day, the seven-member Committee votes on a number of specific departmentsand items in the budget.

On Wednesday, the Milwaukee County Board’s Finance & Audit Committee votedto approve the following 2009 Budgets:

• 7-0 UW-Extension (amended to restore the Horticulture Helpline and relocate the University Extension Service to either the former Child and Adolescent Treatment Center (CATC) or a privately owned facility)
• 6-1 Combined Court Related Operations (No Schmitt) (amended to restore funding for nine Legal Research Intern positions, nine positions of Clerical Assistant 1 and eight Deputy Court Clerk Judicial Assistant positions, deny the creation of nine Administrative Intern positions and deny the implementation of Universal Screening)
• 5-0 House of Correction (Excused Mayo, Jursik) (amended to add additional language on the proposed transfer of control of the House of Correction to the Sheriff, restore funding for four Correction Officer 1 positions, restore funding for a contract with Wisconsin Community Services for inmate job assessments, evaluate costs and benefits related to the potential implementation of a universal screening initiative, and continue funding for the Farm and Fish Hatchery.)
• 5-0 Sheriff (Excused Mayo, Jursik) (amended to restore funding for three positions of Correctional Officer 1, evaluate costs and benefits related to the potential implementation of a universal screening initiative and continue funding for the Farm and Fish Hatchery and the Community Justice Resource Center.)
• 4-1 (No Coggs, Excused Mayo, Jursik) to amend the Milwaukee County Code of General Ordinances relating to inmate charges for Electronic Surveillance.

The Committee voted 7-0 to lay over the DTPW – Milwaukee CountyTransit/Paratransit System budget. Earlier in the week, the Committee voted 6-1 (No Mayo) to amend the Capital Improvement budget by including fundingfor the installation of bike racks on Milwaukee County Transit System buses, funded through a Federal Transit Administration grant and private donations or general obligation bonds.

The Committee also voted to approve the Zoo budget that was laid over on October 7, and approved an Ordinance change relating to admission chargesand parking fees at the Zoo.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET

On Tuesday, the Committee voted to approve the following 2009 RecommendedCapital Improvement Budgets:

• 7-0 Highways and Bridges: Traffic Hazard Elimination Program, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program, County Highway Action Program, Bridge Replacement Program, National Highway System, West Silver Spring Drive, West Good Hope Road
• 7-0 Mass Transit: Bus Radio System Upgrades at MCTS Dispatch Office, Replacement of Air Conditioning Unit at the MCTS Administration Building, Diesel Pump and Piping Replacement at the Kinnickinnic Operating Garage, Roof Replacement at the MCTS Administration Building
• 7-0 Airports: General Mitchell International Airport: In-line Baggage Screening Phase II, Firehouse Roof Replacement, Terminal Mall Public Restroom Renovation, Runway Safety Area Improvements, Security System Fiber Optic Infrastructure Replacement, Southside Trituration Building, Terminal HVAC Equipment Replacement, Airfield Pavement Rehabilitation, Airfield Safety Improvements, Concourse D Hammerhead Restroom Remodel, Perimeter and ARFF Road Reconfiguration, Operations Control Center Renovation, Redundant Main Electric Service Feed, Parking Structure 6th Floor Membrane, Administration Building Ground Floor Elevator, Cargo Ramp 3D Access Control Security, Terminal South Escalator Reorientation, Lawrence J. Timmerman Airport: Airfield Pavement Rehabilitation
• 7-0 Environmental Services: Countywide Sanitary Sewer Repairs
• 7-0 Museum: Museum Air Handling and Piping Replacement, Museum Roof Replacement3
• 7-0 Zoo: Zoo Infrastructure Improvements, Zoo Special Exhibits Building Metal Roof Replacement, Point of Sale Replacement
• 7-0 Behavioral Health Division: Replace Nurse Call Systems
• 7-0 Department of Health and Human Services: Washington Park Senior Center: Cooling Tower Replacement, Replace Fire Alarm, Coggs Center Variable Air Volume Boxes Upgrade/Replacement
• 7-0 County Grounds: 1000 MG Waterspheroid Tank
• 7-0 Courthouse Complex: Criminal Justice Facility: Pod Workstation Replacement, Install Doors and Plumbing in Pod 3D Cells, Pod 4D Tamper Resistant Recreation Cells, Cell Toilet Flushing Control System, Courthouse Complex: Automation & Access Control Upgrade, Courthouse: Restroom Renovation, Light Court Window Replacement, Court Room Bullet Resistant Glass Wall
• 7-0 House of Correction: Kitchen Equipment Replacement Replace Hot Water Heater, Laundry Equipment Replacement, Infrastructure Improvements, Replace Water Pipe North Building, Replace Toilets in C2 Dorm
• 6-0 Other County Agencies (Mayo Excused): Milwaukee County Historical Society Renovation, Marcus Center HVAC Upgrade, Wil-O-Way Storage Room and Grant Roof Replacement, Additional Capacity – Public Safety Radio System, Electronic Vote Tabulator System
• 7-0 Other County Agencies: In Squad Camera – Vision Hawk Digital, Countywide Technical Infrastructure Improvements, Children’s Court Phone System Replacement and Roebles Phones System Installation, Rewire County Facilities, Public Safety Communication Project, Regional Disaster Recovery Data Center, King Community Center Vestibule and Locker Room Alterations, County Special Assessments

The Finance & Audit Committee voted to lay over the following CapitalImprovement items until later in the process:

• Countywide Access Road Improvements Program – Estabrook Park, Countywide Access Road Improvements Program – Dineen Park, Root River Parkway Drive – 76th to Grange, Fleet Equipment Acquisition, Fiscal Monitoring System

The Finance and Audit Committee will continue its meetings throughout themonth of October in Room 203-R of the Milwaukee County Courthouse. TheCounty Board of Supervisors, under the leadership of Chairman Lee Holloway,will adopt the County’s 2009 budget on Monday, November 10 at 8:30 a.m. inRoom 200 of the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Click here to access the 2009budget meeting schedule.The County Board’s annual Public Hearing on the County Executive’s 2009Recommended Budget is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, November 3, 2008, at theWashington Park Senior Center.