Mayor Barrett Receives 2005 Budget Request

Mayor Barrett Receives 2005 Budget Request

Requests Come in $5.2 million Over Allocation

Milwaukee—Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett today received 2005 budget requests from all city departments.
City departments were asked by the previous administration to reduce budgets by an overall $25 million to address the budget gap. Departments who did not meet the allocation include: the Comptroller, City Attorney, Municipal Court and the Department of Public Works. For the first time in five years, the Police Department met its allocation.

"We've got our work cut out for us," said Mayor Tom Barrett. "I'm pleased to see that many departments have submitted budgets that are within the levels requested. Now, we've got to tackle some tough issues with the departments that did not meet their allocations requested by the previous administration."

Highlights of the budget requests include:

• Assessed Value, Tax Levy and Rate—The levy of $199.0, increased to $229 in the 2005 request (up 15%); the rate increased $9.73 to $10.36 (6.0% increase); and the Assessment Value increased $20.5 billion, to $22.1 billion (8.1% increase). The total City budget of $1.08 billion increased to $1.15 billion (overall increase of 6.1%);
• User fee status (snow fee, solid waste, water rate and sewer rates)—No change in the 2005 request.
  
  Budget/Add One

• General Fund Revenues—a $5.2 million under projects (Reduced from $4 million
  from 2004 budget)
   

While some of the department budgets at first glance appear harsh, Mayor Barrett called the budget do-able.

"We're going to roll up our sleeves and get to work throughout the summer, so that when September 28 rolls around, we've got a good, solid budget that does not jeopardize public safety and city services," said Mayor Barrett.

Rationale for some of the 2005 budget increases are:

• Healthcare increased $9 million from projections;
• General fund revenues were $5.2 million under projection;
• Capital levy increased $7 million from projection; and
• Departments not meeting allocations totaled $5.2 million

Mitigating circumstances could cause the 2005 budget to increase or decrease. Some of those factors include State legislation that could reduce the City's Shared Revenue Payment, adjustments in the General Fund, contract negotiations (employee benefit costs and wage estimates), or state mandated spending limits or borrowing referendum requirements.

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