The Dane County Board majority voted against $10.6 million in tax increases to protect taxpayers and our high quality county services while avoiding layoffs.
We said no to the deputies push to increase taxes 15 percent, an amount the 5,300 Dane County families struggling to pay last July’s property taxes could not afford.
The annual county property tax increase for 2009 and 2010 was $20 for the average homeowner. That compares to a 10.2 percent increase for the Waunakee schools, a $92 increase for Madison public schools, and a $76 increase for the typical Madison home.
We had a tough situation, with the state cutting $4 million and sales tax declining 9 percent. We cut most county workers’ pay by 3 percent, human service spending by 2.8 percent, other departments by 6 percent and the conservation fund by $1.5 million below the county executive’s budget.
However, the Dane County sheriff’s and 911 budgets increased to protect public safety.
The County Board majority feels this fair budget gets you world class family service programs and high quality public safety.
- Dane County Board Chairman Scott McDonell, Sup. Brett Hulsey and Sup. John Hendrick
DCDSA Response:
Members of the Dane County Deputy Sheriff’s Association read with interest and shock Wednesday’s misleading letter authored by Dane County Board Chairman Scott McDonell and Sups. Brett Hulsey and John Hendrick concerning the 2010 county budget.
First, the DCDSA never advocated a 15 percent tax increase. While a 12 percent tax increase would have been a simple solution to the county’s budget problems, the DCDSA has always believed there were more equitable ways to balance the budget.
The refrain from county leaders continues to be that the economy created problems for next year’s budget. What the economic downturn has done is expose budget problems over the last decade.
It’s also hard to swallow the supervisors’ assertions that they cut $1.5 million from the conservation fund. What they fail to mention is that, thanks to carryover, $11 million will be available for conservation and land acquisition in 2010.
Finally, it’s ridiculous for the supervisors to brag about increasing the Sheriff’s Office budget to protect public safety. Equipment is only as good as the people available to use it, and with the likelihood of layoffs, safety couldn’t be further from their minds.
The State Journal was correct when it editorialized that the board had several opportunities to make the 2010 budget a responsible one. McDonell, Hulsey and Hendrick rejected those opportunities. To then brag about the favor they did taxpayers is ridiculous.
— Bob Richardson, president, and Jim Brigham, vice president, Dane County Deputy Sheriff’s Association
Letter from Tom Consigny of Madison riled over McDonell, Hulsey and Hendrick’s arrogance:
I both smiled and became angry at the patronizing attitude of three Dane County Board members who signed a letter to the editor in Wednesday’s State Journal.
They applauded the majority board’s efforts at dealing with less tax revenues and state reimbursements, while still providing “world class family service programs and high quality public safety.” Some question the degree of public safety to be provided, and property taxpayers don’t need and can’t afford “world class programs.”
While patting taxpayers on the head, and simultaneously patting themselves on the back, Sup. Scott McDonell, Brett Hulsey, John Hendrick and 19 others approved a 7.9 percent county levy increase.
Only 13 supervisors voted against this budget, and they deserve our thanks during these recessionary times.
They are Sups. Eileen Bruskewitz, Patrick Downing, Ronn Ferrell, Duane Gau, Melanie Hampton, Gerald Jensen, Patrick Miles, Dennis O’Loughlin, Kyle Richmond, Dave Ripp, Bob Salov, Kurt Schlicht and Mike Willett.
And kudos should also go to City Council members Jed Sanborn and Thuy Pham-Remmele for introducing amendments and speaking against the recently passed city budget, which dictated a 4.1 percent tax increase. They were the only two out of 22 to do so.
— Tom Consigny, Madison