City of Milwaukee's 2010 Budget Outlook: "Grim"

Link to September 23 Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel article, "City budget is grim all over".

The general theme: Charging taxpayers more money for less service

Some of the specifics:

• $1.4 billion spending plan
• $90 million deficit
• $49 million city contribution to make up for stock market losses in pension funds

Excerpt: Most neighborhood libraries would be open only 35 hours a week, down from 45 to 56 hours now. Hours would not change at the Central Library downtown or the federally funded Center Street Library.

[Chairman of the council's Finance & Personnel Committee Michael] Murphy said he was dismayed by the library cuts at a time when unemployed residents need library services more. Hines said he was concerned about whether libraries would be able to deliver adequate service.