The Milwaukee County Board restored $9 million to the 2009 budget through overrides of county Executive Scott Walker’s vetoes, resulting in a 3.1% increase in the property tax levy, bringing it to $257 million to support the $1.4 billion budget.
The board overturned many of Walker’s vetoes in which he sought to restore privatization plans that were cut from the budget by the board in the final budget. Walker has pushed privatization plans as a means to save the county money.
The board also overrode Walker’s attempt to restore his proposed 25-cent increase in bus fares. The board supported an advisory referendum earlier this month in which voters endorsed a sales tax increase in part to raise more transit funding. Walker is opposed to any tax increase.
The board also rejected Walker’s efforts to fund an analysis of a possible privatization of Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport.
