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Milwaukee County is facing some very tough financial times. Unfunded or underfunded mandates from
the State, strangling health-care costs for County employees and massive pension obligations together with declining
revenues are combining to give us a large and growing annual structural deficit. Without major budgetary reforms, Milwaukee
County will have a $153 million dollar structural deficit by 2014.
Growing up, I watched my father operate a small
family run business, which he has done now for more than 50 years. I then ran my own small business for more than 25 years.
During that time I learned the importance of controlling spending while constantly finding new ways of increasing revenue
to keep up with my operating costs. I knew that I could not raise prices to my customers year after year or they would leave
me, so I found other ways to save. In order to continue providing the services our residents expect, Milwaukee County
must abandon the big tax and spend mentality of the past and operate with a more common sense, business-minded approach.
Since joining the Board, I have fought to protect taxpayers by reducing spending and lowering our operating costs.
I supported outsourcing certain county positions that resulted in millions of dollars of savings for taxpayers while
at the same time protecting services. I have been an outspoken critic of raising the county sales tax. I have advocated
for the county to sell underused, excess property to get it back in private ownerhip where it will produce tax dollars rather
than consume them. I have led the fight to reform the county board by proposing to reduce the number of Supervisors or turning
the position of a Supervisor into a part-time job by cutting the pay and benefits. In 2010 I published a report: Restoring
Financial Solvency IN Milwaukee County Government. This report outlines several steps needed to be taken by the board to reign
in spending and solve the county's ongoing structural deficit. The prolonged economic recession we have been
experiencing has caused a strain on our citizens. Families all across Milwaukee County have been forced to cut back expenses
and prioritize spending. Government should be no different. My experience in the private sector has taught me the importance
of spending money wisely. During my first term as Supervisor, I voted against millions of dollars of proposed tax increases
by other members of the board. I have also spnsored resolutions and budget amendments to save taxpayers millions more.
Ideas such as my proposal to modernize the county's pension system by converting it from a defined benefit plan to a
defined contribution plan would save taxpayers more than $500 million dollars. I will continue my efforts
to get Milwaukee County back on a sound financial footing by continuing to fight for the reforms needed to eliminate our structural
deficit and by working to improve the efficiency of all county departments.
My vision for a better Milwaukee County...........
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PROPERTY TAXES
The "business as usual" practice of increasing
spending and raising property taxes year after year must stop. High property taxes in Milwaukee County are literally
forcing people out of their own homes. The yearly increases in property taxes are forcing senior citizens and others
living on fixed incomes to sell their homes. High escrow deposits for skyrocketing property taxes are making
mortgage payments unaffordable for young families trying to buy their first home. It's automatic, another budget, another
tax hike. This cycle has got to stop. It is critical for us members of the Board to work with the
County Executive to hold taxes down by thoroughly examining the County's budget to reduce and eliminate wasteful spending. We
must also find new sources of revenue so that we can continue to provide the vital services that the residents of Milwaukee
County require and deserve without putting all of the burden on the backs of the taxpayers.
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PROTECT OUR PARKS
Our Milwaukee County Park System is among the finest in the Country. When I was a kid,
I lived a block away from Jackson Park. I literally grew up in the park, spending all my weekends and summers there with
my neighborhood friends. We would fish and take row boats out in the lagoon. We would have camp fires and play army in the
woods. I took swimming lessons in the pool. In the winter there was ice-skating, sledding down the hill, and a tobaggon
slide. My mom always said that park was the best babysitter she ever had.
As a member of the Parks,
Energy and Environment committee, I work with the Parks Director to make sure she has the resources needed to properly
protect and maintain our parks. Having a great park system though is meaningless if people are afraid to use it, so
I also work with the Sheriff to increase regular patrols of our parks so people feel safe while using them.
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COUNTY SPENDING
Milwaukee County is facing hard financial times,
operating costs are climbing and revenues are decreasing. Faced with this situation, the tendency of most government
bureaucracies is to just continue along with business as usual while raising taxes to make up for the short fall. These
old tax and spend habits die hard, but die they must. In business I learned through first hand experience
that you cannot always raise the prices of your goods and services to keep up with cost increases. Consumer demand and competition
in the free market combine to dictate the maximum price you can charge your customers which makes controlling costs,
improving productivity and spending money wisely an absolute must. I believe that government must operate
more like a business, striving to constantly improve the services it provides while scrutinizing every penny it spends
bearing in mind that the taxpayers do not have bottomless pockets.
ACTIVE MILITARY
Our active
military personnel deserve our respect and need our support.
As your Milwaukee County Supervisor I will never,
ever support a resolution condemning our military's involvement in any aspect of the war on terror. Such acts embolden
our enemies and destroy the morale of our Armed Forces. These senseless votes are a meaningless waste of time and only
serve to promote personal political agendas. And when it comes to war and backing our troops, there is no room for politics.
TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT I believe that people in elected positions should always keep in mind that the taxpayers
are their bosses. Elected officials are voted into office by their fellow citizens who place a special trust in them
to conduct the duties of their office with honesty and integrity. By promoting a policy of complete transparency, elected
officials can be held accountable by their constituents. I conduct
the operations of my office with complete transparency right down to posting my monthly office expenses on my County
Board webpage. I always tell inquiring constituents exactly how I am voting on issues and why, and I always listen
to every point of view whether agreeing with mine or not.
ACCOUNTABILITY Communication between elected officials and their constituents is crucial and ensures accountability.
I reply to every phone call, email or written letter I receive from constituents in a timely fashion. You have a right
to know how and why I am voting they way I am, and I have a responsibility to answer your questions and to fulfill my campaign
promises. I will always operate my office under this philosophy.
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VITAL COUNTY SERVICES
Milwaukee County provides vital services
to people in need. The Mental Health Complex, the transportation of the elderly and disabled, Senior Citizen Centers
and more are all provided to residents by the County. We must operate these programs with common sense and diligence to ensure
their continued existence.
My goal as County Supervisor is to work with the various agencies providing these
services to not only make sure they have the resources they require to meet the needs and expectations of those who rely on
them, but also to make sure they are operating with efficiency so we can achieve a balance of maintaining essential county
services while controlling property taxes.
MARINE VETERANS
America
can never repay the debt it owes to the brave men and women that sacrificed and put their lives on the line in the name of
freedom. Now in their golden years, we should do everything we can to make sure they are not forgotten.
As your
Milwaukee County Supervisor, I work with senior citizens and veterans groups to make sure they are getting the vital
county services they need and deserve. We must never forget what they have done for us and we must do all we can for them.
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Sanfelippo for Supervisor West Allis, WI 53227
Authorized and paid for by Sanfelippo for Supervisor, Mary Maierle Treasurer.
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