What Walker's Budget Means for Oshkosh

And, to be sure, the rest of us.

Editorial: Budget's first 
blush leaves 
a pale shade. (Appleton Post-Crescent, 3/6/2011)

Excerpt: Officials figure that even with 
higher public employee contribution 
rates outlines by the governor, the 
city will have to cut about $50,000 
above and beyond the difference between that savings and the cut in 
state aid. In addition, the budget bill 
reduces the amount municipalities 
can increase spending each year 
from 3 percent to 0 percent.

However, 
about 50 percent of the city’s spending goes to public safety expenses, 
mainly salaries and benefits for police officers and firefighters, two 
public employee groups the governor 
puts off limits when eliminating 
most collective bargaining rights.

In order to hold spending flat or 
risk losing $1.2 million in state revenue as a penalty, where can the city 
cut costs? Remember, public safety is 
off limits. Parks, the public library, 
public museum, seniors center, on-
going street maintenance and street 
plowing. Municipal spending is one 
small example where the state budget makes Scott Walker the defacto mayor and city manager of Oshkosh.

Indeed, pondering the impact on 
communities and loss of local control should leave us all pale.

The Final Thought: Early reviews of state 
budget are not encouraging. As we dig deeper, 
we’ll share other thoughts on how the budget 
falls short and how it can be improved.