County Executive Scott Walker followed through with his pledge to cut the Milwaukee County tax levy by $1 million, releasing a proposed budget today that calls for continued concessions from public employees.
Walker said in his budget address to the County Board that government workers should make the same sacrifices that those in the private sector are now making because of the sluggish economy. He wants a wage freeze and would require employees to pay more for their health care and pensions.
“We cannot and should not maintain a system where public employees are the haves, and the taxpayers footing the bill are the have-nots,” Walker said.
County Board Chairman Lee Holloway accused Walker of balancing the budget “on the backs of workers” and promised changes to improve the budget.
Walker’s gubernatorial rival, Democrat Tom Barrett, issued a statement saying the budget shows Walker will do or say anything to get elected because he dedicated new resources to the Mental Health Complex only after problems at the facility became an issue in the governor’s race.
Read Walker’s budget address: http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/100930_Walker_budget.pdf.
– WisPolitics.com
