Walker Wants Dissolution

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker this week called again for the dissolution of county government in a letter to county board members.

“Eliminating a layer of government and consolidating it with other governments is an idea whose time has come,” Walker wrote. “County government largely overlaps municipal and state government. … It can and should be consolidated into other areas.”

Walker believes county services and responsibilities could be handled by local governments and the state, while specialized districts could be created to take over managing parks and other county-supported cultural institutions, and a transportation district created to manage the local airport.

County Board chairman Lee Holloway last week suggested an alternative plan — eliminating the post of elected county executive and creating a county administrator position whose appointment would be made by the board.

Walker is planning a run for the Republican nomination in the 2010 Wisconsin governor’s race.

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