Milwaukee OKs Fee Hikes

The Milwaukee Common Council last week approved a nearly $1.4 billion 2009 budget that relies on increased storm-water fees, parking meter rates, and parking fines to generate additional revenue needed to hold down a property tax hike and fend off a solid-waste fee increase.

Mayor Tom Barrett had originally proposed a property tax increase of 4.8% and asked the council to either raise the solid-waste fee or adopt a series of steep cuts in police and fire ranks and library hours.

After weeks of debate, the council this week opted instead to raise the garbage fee by 14% and limit the property tax increase to 3.9%. The budget maintains current police and fire ranks with the exception of the closure of a downtown engine company. To raise additional revenue, the council also increased the storm-water fee.

The budget includes routine general obligation infrastructure borrowing and annual school note issuance. Barrett is reviewing the spending plan and could use his line-item veto power. The council would have the ability to attempt an override of any potential vetoes at its meeting Nov. 25.

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