Without sales tax increase Milwaukee faces future cuts in police positions, Mayor Tom Barrett warns

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is warning the city will see further cuts in police positions without the county sales tax increase that has been proposed by Milwaukee-area leaders.

"If this does not happen, there will be even more cuts to the Milwaukee Police Department next year, which is something that I am trying to avoid," Barrett said at a meeting of local elected leaders.

Barrett's proposed 2020 budget increases the Milwaukee Police Department's budget for salaries but drops its number of sworn officer positions by 60, from 1,864 to 1,804. The loss of positions, a reduction of about 3%, would be done through retirements, not layoffs.

Revenue from the proposed sales tax would allow the city to keep those positions, he has said.

His comments marked a ratcheting up of the rhetoric as Milwaukee-area leaders seek permission from the state Legislature for a binding referendum to raise the county sales tax to 1.5% from 0.5%, with a portion of the revenue going to the county's municipalities. The proposal is estimated to bring in as much as $160 million in the first year, and legislation has been introduced by Milwaukee Democrats Rep. Evan Goyke and Sen. LaTonya Johnson.

Barrett told other elected leaders at Monday's meeting of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Council that after he introduced his budget, he received a letter from seven Republican state legislators from the area criticizing the proposed cut to police.

"My response, essentially, is if you work with me, I can avoid this," he said. "This is something I'm trying to avoid."

But, he said, a partnership with the state is required.

Barrett has cited as challenges the city's significant anticipated jump in its pension contribution in addition to state limits on ways to raise revenue, stagnant shared revenue payments from the state and increasing costs of services.

In the letter sent to Barrett and members of the Milwaukee Common Council earlier this month, Republicans from the area wrote that they were "shocked" by the proposal to cut 60 police officer positions.

"Our brave police officers already suffer from a lack of resources and this proposal will only make their life-saving work more difficult," the legislators wrote. "Your proposed reduction in the police force would not only deplete Milwaukee's scarce law enforcement resources but it would also endanger the safety of all the city's residents."

State Reps. Janel Brandtjen, Mike Kuglitsch, Chuck Wichgers, Rob Hutton, Jim Ott, Joe Sanfelippo, and state Sen. Dale Kooyenga signed the letter urging against enacting the budget proposal.

The letter states that reducing the number of officers would make matters worse for Milwaukee and its residents.

"It would be a dereliction of your duty as a public servant to endanger your constituents and worsen your city by passing the proposed budget," the letter states.

Eleven of the 15 members of the Common Council responded late last week, saying they did not want to eliminate the positions but that the state-imposed limits on revenue and flat shared revenue might leave them with no choice. 

At $298 million, the Police Department budget exceeds the city's total property tax levy. Even with the headcount reduction, the department's salary budget increases by $7.3 million, the letter from the council members states.

The letter was signed by Common Council members Ashanti Hamilton, Nik Kovac, Nikiya Dodd, Khalif Rainey, Michael Murphy, Russell Stamper II, Cavalier Johnson, Robert Bauman, Milele Coggs, Chantia Lewis and José Pérez.

It states that the legislators have more control over the situation than Milwaukee's elected leaders.

"Let us assure you that our highest priority is the safety of our citizens," they wrote. "We remind you that we live here too — these are our neighbors and our neighborhoods. We agree that it is incumbent upon you to speak out but it is equally your responsibility to provide the resources necessary for the safety and security of our constituents.  For too long our hands have been tied and you control the strings."

Contact Alison Dirr at 414-224-2383 or adirr@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter @AlisonDirr.