Barrett’s budget [Link to J/S article on the Budget]: Police and firefighter cuts, property tax increase
The City of Milwaukee would lose 33 police officer positions and 75 firefighter jobs under the 2018 budget plan, which Mayor Tom Barrett is set to introduce this week.
Every budget starts with cutting Fire Fighters and Police Officers, plus they usually throw out the idea of cutting out the mobile mammogram testing in the poorest neighborhoods, but that isn’t in the article so it may no longer exist.
Are Police and Fire Fighters really the only place to cut the City’s budget and more importantly, is it wise to reduce Police positions in Milwaukee, which MSN reports as the 5th most dangerous city in the nation?
With out of control violent crime, it is harder to attract major businesses and thereby turn around the local economy – and an influx of jobs would cure a lot, including a reduction in crime.
The Effects of Unemployment on Crime Rates in the US – SMARTech
A one percent increase in the unemployment rate will increase the violent crime rate by 14.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. … A one percent increase in the poverty rate will increase the violent crime rate by 23.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, and is statistically significant at the 1% level.
Even property crimes hurt. I can’t tell you how many times have I had good tenants move because they came out to their car in the morning to find the window broken and their $50 radio stolen.
Better from a long-term perspective would be a shift from an austerity to a prosperity mindset. Milwaukee should have fought tooth and nail to have Foxconn locate within the City. That could have changed everything well into the future.
There are public hearings scheduled if you wish to comment on the budget, or call your Aldermen (414) 286-2221.