Gov. Walker's Savings Tools Won't Cover Greenfield's Cuts

According to the Urban Alliance, a sub-group of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities that represents the larger communities in the state, including Greenfield, there are simply not enough tools in the toolbox to overcome the funding cuts in Gov. Scott Walker's budget.

For the past several weeks, the League has worked with local treasurers and finance directors to analyze the full impact of Walker's proposed cuts - $136 million total - and the savings expected from health insurance and pension increases.

Based on worksheets from 36 large communities, the proposed savings will cover only 61 percent of the funding cuts in 2012.

The Urban Alliance compiled the information in a press release that was sent to the media and elected officials and posted it on its website Thursday.

"We have worked closely with the 30-plus other large cities throughout the state to present prudent commentary to the recent legislative changes," Greenfield Mayor Michael Neitzke said. "We support the initiatives presented in this joint-letter to our elected leaders in Madison."

According to the Urban Alliance's findings, Greenfield will be hit particularly hard. The city will lose approximately $967,000 in funding cuts but will only be able to cover 23 percent of that with savings of $219,000. The percentage is tied for the second-lowest of the Urban Alliance's members.

But Greenfield is not alone. Some communities will save little in health insurance from the governor’s proposal, according to the press release.

“All of our city employees already pay 10 percent of their health insurance premiums," Watertown Mayer Ron Krueger said in a press release. "Going to 12 percent as the governor suggests doesn’t save us much — about $17,500 a year — and Watertown will lose almost $650,000 in state funding in 2012.”

Also, pension contributions by utility workers will not help with the general fund revenue cuts, the Urban Alliance said.

“Our total payroll is $38 million, but only about one-third goes for civilian employees in the general fund," Appleton Mayer Tim Hanna said. "A 5.8 percent  pension payment from those employees will save Appleton a little under $800,000 in 2012, but Appleton is losing almost $1.9 million in funding.”

Racine Mayor John Dickert said the Urban Alliance needs to work with the Joint Committee on Finance to find ways to cover the other 39 percent.

"Simply shifting the state budget deficit to local budgets doesn’t help the taxpayers of Wisconsin,” he said.

A spreadsheet of cuts and savings for all 36 cities can be found on the League's website under the header "Announcements" on the front page.