May 01, 2009

 

Taylor Wins Approval of Milwaukee County RTA, $134 million for Milwaukee

JFC Action Follows Successful Referendum in Milwaukee County Allows for KRM Commuter Rail Line of Milwaukee as well numerous citizen groups concerned with the quality of these services in the community

(MADISON) The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee approved a dedicated funding source, estimated at 134

million dollars yearly, for Milwaukee County transit, parks & culture, and emergency medical services as well

as a Milwaukee County RTA in action early Friday morning. The budget action, spearheaded by Senator Lena

C. Taylor and her Milwaukee colleagues, Reps. Pedro Colon and Tamara Grigsby, creates an infrastructure for

moving Milwaukee forward and restoring the transit and parks system to their needed funding levels.

“I am extremely proud of the monumentous action that the Joint Committee on Finance took early this

morning,” said Taylor. “Following the voter’s lead from the November 2008 referendum, we have delivered

the ability to better the lives of our citizens.”

The action will provide the funding needed for transit, parks & culture, and emergency medical services in

Milwaukee County. This new funding will be made to follow the referendum’s intent to provide direct

property tax relief to the taxpayers in Milwaukee. In addition, the committee approved authority for

construction of the KRM Commuter Rail Line without drawing on Milwaukee County sales or property taxes.

“After a long day of negotiations, the will of the voters expressed in the referendum, won out last night,”

Taylor commented. “Property tax relief will happen along side a needed improvement in Milwaukee’s

services, and realize the benefit of the KRM Commuter Rail line. This has been a long hard road to move

forward, but last night Milwaukee taxpayers won big!”

The action will be a part of the budget going forward to the full Legislature for action and then to the

Governor. Senator Taylor thanked her colleagues, Reps. Colon and Grigsby for their support and solidarity as

well as the members that voted for the proposal. The action was a legislative priority for the County and City

of Milwaukee as well numerous citizen groups concerned with the quality of these services in the community.