This Just In ...

Dear Franklin City Hall: Your budget is really screwed up, so what are you going to do about it?

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 9, 2010

Maybe, just maybe this time the light bulb goes on at Franklin City Hall.

Franklin taxpayers, you have been very generous year after year after year to your city in the incredible amount of property taxes you pay. Compared to other municipalities in the area, Franklin certainly is among the leaders in the dreaded “T” word.

City leaders, I’m sorry to say, have failed in their attempts to hold the line, more often than not, taxing and spending like nobody’s business.

We’re in a recession?

Doesn’t matter.

People are losing their jobs?

Doesn’t matter?

People are losing their homes?

Again, doesn’t matter.

Like so many other municipalities, Franklin governs under the opinion that cutting spending which leads to reduced taxes simply can’t be done. Actually, it can be done, but that requires courage, tough choices, and tough votes. Why do that when you can just take the easy way out and brag to constituents how you kept this program and that service intact.

All across the nation, citizens are making their voices loud and clear. Enough is enough. You are taxing us to death. Are you listening, city leaders of Franklin?

I would pose the same question to the fiscally irresponsible Franklin School Board, but that bunch is a lost cause.  “Yes, Mister Milzer. How high should we tax them this year, Mister Milzer. Whatever you say, Mister Milzer. We’ll vote yes, Mister Milzer (Franklin Business Manager and Jesse James impersonator, Jim Milzer).

There potentially are a few sane voices of reason on the Franklin Common Council, but not enough. Even the retired Lyle Sohns had an unflappable mindset that miniscule property tax levy increases were simply out of the question.

All of this is a prelude to gloomy news that should, under normal circumstances, say your own household, be an extreme wake up call, but probably not at Franklin City Hall (And by the way, you can most likely insert any other Wisconsin municipality in place of Franklin and pretty much have the same story).

The city of Franklin’s Finance Department has issued its financial report for the first three months of 2010 (What, you thought this was a blog about a bake sale or candy drive? That fluff is on some other blog).

Franklin is in serious budget troubles, folks…state of Wisconsin-like budget troubles.

Franklin finds itself in the same situation of some reckless consumer that is spending far more than he/she is making. The city is spending more of your money than it is taking in, creating a budget deficit.

So far this year, Franklin’s incoming revenue is $1,510 365 less than the amount the city has budgeted for. That’s over $1.5 million in the hole. And yet the city keeps spending and spending and spending and spending and spending.

What’s causing the budget shortfall? Building permits, planning fees, fire inspections, tippage, Milwaukee County payments toward paramedics and interest revenue are all lagging. And that’s only three months into the year.

I’m not on the Finance Committee, though Mayor Taylor has asked me to serve in the past. If I was, my advice would be clear, concise, and simple. The piggy bank is broke. Time to stop spending. Cut up the VISA card. If you don't want to make budget cuts, then it’s time to enact a property tax freeze/spending freeze right now. Take your lumps temporarily. Ride through this mess. Get back on track. Gain some political favor with suffering taxpayers.

There are several problems with this approach:

1) City leaders don’t understand the current state of city economics.

2) City leaders do understand the current state of city economics, but don’t care.

3) City leaders do understand the current state of city economics, but don’t have the guts to make tough, but sound fiscal judgments.

4) Their tax and spend mentality is so engrained it’s almost impossible to change.

5) My idea makes too much common sense.

The fact is that even if the revenue shortfall improves, there will be a deficit that needs to be addressed. Spending cuts? Please. Look at who’s on the Common Council. Tax increase? That’s more likely.

Franklin taxpayers, it’s time to cut Franklin's bloated budget. If they won't do it, then we need to freeze spending and freeze the property tax levy. Local government has taken enough from us and they have not acted responsibly, WITH OUR MONEY!

If you agree with me, contact your alderman and Mayor Taylor. Tell them no more new spending, no more property tax hikes.

You do not climb out of a hole by continuing to dig. That includes budgets.