Long List of Cuts on Table for Racine City Services

Dickert warns city services facing cuts.  (Racine Journal-Times, 8/24/2011)

Excerpt: Mainly as a result of Gov. Scott Walker's budget, a long list of cuts in city services is on the table for next year.

Mayor John Dickert on Tuesday evening held the first of three budget listening sessions, this one at Cesar Chavez Community Center, 2221 Douglas Ave. Only about eight noncity employees attended.

But Dickert laid out some of the likely or possible results of having less revenue in 2012. He said they include closing parks, less frequent solid waste collections, slashed street maintenance, reduced community center hours, trolley and/or bus service cuts, shortened counter hours and higher fees.

RG aside:  Hope the omission of the library in this list is a good sign.

[snip]

Walker's budget cuts about $1 million in shared revenue to Racine, Dickert said. He was hesitant to add up total losses - and said the city is still waiting for answers.

But after the meeting, he and City Administrator Tom Friedel estimated the city will also lose about $400,000 in money for local streets, $200,000 in recycling funding and about $200,000 in state transit money.

The last item could be multiplied if the city does not put up that amount, because it draws matching federal funds. Friedel said the city will have to consider trimming night and/or weekend bus services.

In addition, the city must pay about $2 million more next year on its long-term debt.  [Bold added.]

Other Wisconsin county and municipal budget news.
Dodge County Administrator:  "Governor Walker does not speak for Dodge County".  (8/25/2011)
Longevity bonuses in Portage might become a thing of the past.  (8/24/2011)
Declining property values pose a challenge to Columbus budget development.  (8/24/2011)
Whitewater council looks at 0% tax levy increase.  (8/24/2011)
Janesville residents asked to make tough choices in online budget scorecard.  (8/24/2011)
Village of Darien officials ask for input on 2012 budget.  (8/24/2011)
City of Marshfield has some wiggle room in its 2012 budget development.  (8/24/2011)
Soglin on 2012 Madison budget:  "Every service we rely on is vulnerable".  (8/23/2011)
With a ballooning budget deficit, Marathon County considers a tax increase.  (8/23/2011)
Sheboygan's Strategic Fiscal Planning Committee to determine what city will look like.  (8/19/2011)
Brown County Exec looks at same tax levy, impact on services to be determined.  (8/18/2011)
City of Shawano wrestles with $128,000 deficit.  (8/16/2011)
Possible double whammy for Shawano City-County Library.  (8/15/2011)
Portage County Executive looks to "create a bridge to a new design, a way of functioning on less".. (8/15/2011)
Antigo cuts fire, police positions.  (8/15/2011)
Adding up the budget numbers in the Fox Valley.  (8/14/2011)
Sauk County officials ask for input.  (8/12/2011
Marathon County ranks services to address $500,000 budget shortfall.  (8/12/2011)
City of Beloit faces a challenging budget process.  (8/8/2011)
Fond du Lac city manager sez Governor's tools not enough to offset cuts.  (8/2/2011)
Manitowoc mayor asks department heads for 10% budget cuts.  (8/2/2011)