Nov. 2, 2023 7:30p
(WGTD)---Wisconsin municipalities and school districts had high hopes for state aid increases in this budget cycle, given the state’s huge budget surplus. But when all was said and done, the trimmed-down budget Gov. Evers reluctantly signed earlier this year was a far cry from what he had proposed.
Under Evers’ original budget, Racine would’ve received a $13 million increase. Instead, Racine got $5 million.
In his annual budget address Thursday evening, Mayor Mason revealed he’s been able to use his connections with the Democratic governor to finagle additional state aid: $9.5 million spread over three years. "It will alleviate some of the pressure on our budget," Mason said in his speech to the city council which was streamed on Facebook. The extra revenue will be used for police and firefighter overtime, body cameras and other things.
A city spokesman said later that the $9.5 million is coming from add-ons made to existing appropriations that are under administrative purview.
Also Thursday night, Mason announced that the city’s violence reduction initiatives will now fall under the auspices of a new department to be called the Department of Community Safety. Mason indicated that initiatives undertaken in partnership with the county and school district appeared to have paid off. He said there’s been a 40% reduction in gun crimes in the city over last year.
If the council approves, the city will have another new department: A Department of Customer Service. Mason said it's meant to address complaints he's received over inefficiencies in how some departments respond to residents' requests for various services. The new department will be within the City Clerk's office, and will involve existing employees that will be cross-trained. Some will be fluent in Spanish, he said.
Mason said his budget proposal does not include any position reductions.
It also includes the lowest mill rate since 2012, thanks in part to an increase in property values.
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