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Falk's Budget Plan Has 4.85 Percent Tax Hike

Social Service Programs, Sheriff's Office To Benefit Most From Proposed Budget

Wisconsin State Journal :: FRONT :: A1

Thursday, October 2, 2003
Lesley Rogers Barrett County reporter

On Wednesday, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk submitted a $399.9 million budget for 2004, which includes a 4.85 percent increase in the amount of property taxes collected.

For the first time in her six years in office, Falk didn't follow her self-imposed rule of not raising taxes beyond the rate of inflation plus population growth. If she had followed that limit, the tax levy would have increased by 3.7 percent.

The tax increase is still lower than a proposed statewide tax limit for municipal governments that Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed this year. That would have capped the county's increase at 5 percent.

The previous three years, the county tax increase on the average Madison home has increased an average of $6.47 a year.

If Falk's proposal is approved with no changes, taxpayers would pay $2.89 per $1,000 of assessed property value for county taxes.

The increase is meant to help social service programs and the Sheriff's Office, Falk said.

"What we heard over and over again was to protect our most vital human services and public safety," Falk said in a news conference Wednesday.

The budget, which outlines revenues and spending in all county departments, ranging from parks to highways to the county nursing home, now goes to the County Board. Board members are expected to approve a final budget by the end of November.

While Falk reduced services provided by almost every department, the county will still have a higher budget this year because of the increased cost of health insurance and services. And the county faces more than $7 million in funding cuts from the state next year, primarily in Human Services.

Those cuts, combined with a fast-growing county population and lower-than-usual projected sales tax revenues meant tough choices between raising taxes and cutting services, Falk said.

To continue the same level of county services and keep the same number of employees as this year, the county budget would have needed at least another $16 million, Falk said.

"You can't do business as usual when you face these challenges," Falk said.

The budget eliminates 40 vacant positions. There might be some layoffs in jobs that are funded by state or federal grants that won't be renewed.

Efficiencies were created by merging departments, which Falk predicted will be a tough battle for the County Board.

"People don't like change," Falk said.

There are no cost-of-living salary increases for direct care workers and most contract agencies were handed cuts between 2 to 5 percent.

However, Falk did add $130,000 to the adult developmental disabilities budget of $62.8 million. That will generate another $182,000 in federal money.

Anne Medeiros, consultant for the Dane County Developmental Disabilities Coalition, said she's thankful, but overall, the proposed budget means less direct care for the disabled.

"They're going to see cuts in care hours," Medeiros said, citing rising costs and previous budget cuts.

Sheriff Gary Hamblin and Falk reached an agreement Monday on his budget, which should make the next two months less contentious for the County Board.

Falk is recommending a $46.4 million sheriff's budget -- less than the $46.9 million budget in 2003. Falk and Hamblin were initially $10 million apart, but they compromised.

The agreement includes a deal with the state to keep 47 jail inmates -- who are being held for violating their probation or parole -- out of the county jail each day by sending them to state lockups.

The deal also means 20 new squad cars and money to plan and design a combined facility for jail inmates on work release and those participating in alcohol or drug abuse treatment.

"The tax rate is within reason given fiscal realities this year," Dane County Board Chairman Kevin Kesterson said. "We can't leave people without any type of a safety net, and some of the earlier proposals would have done that."

\ Budget highlights

Highlights of the proposed 2004 Dane County budget. The spending plan:

* Extends a freeze on hiring, except public safety.

* Merges the Parks Department with the Planning and Development Department.

* Merges the Public Works Department with the Department of Highway and Transportation.

* Borrows $2.5 million for the Conservation Fund to buy and preserve undeveloped land.

* Cuts at least 40 vacant positions.

* Causes an unknown number of layoffs.

* Increases fees, including a marriage license from $70 to $95.

* Provides no cost of living wage increases for Human Services contract employees.

* Calls for a $46.4 million budget for the Sheriff's Office including shifting some jail inmates to state lockups, 20 new squad cars, a six-week delay in the hiring of sergeants and lieutenants.

* Includes $1.5 million to plan and design a combined facility for work release inmates and inmate treatment for alcohol or drug abuse.

* Creates one levy-funded position in the district attorney's office for domestic violence.

* Maintains county library service resource sharing programs and Bookmobile hours.

\ Budget numbers

The proposed 2004 Dane County budget at a glance:

* $399.9 million in spending.

* $97.5 million in property taxes to be collected.

* $25.70 more in property taxes on the average Madison home.

* 40 vacant positions are eliminated.

* Four departments aremerged into two.

\ If you go

* What: Dane County Board public hearing on the proposed 2004 county budget. The board is expected to approve the budget by Thanksgiving.

* When: 7 p.m., Oct. 20.

* Where: Room 201 of the City-County Building, 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.