Mayor Barrett unveils 2014 city budget before full Common Council

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee is financially healthy, and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says that is a rarity when many similar-sized cities are facing serious financial troubles. On Tuesday, September 24th, Mayor Barrett unveiled his 2014 budget.

"This budget preserves our critical service levels, continues to preserve our essential infrastructure, and supports economic development and employment growth," Mayor Barrett said.

Mayor Barrett delivered his annual budget address to the full City Council on Tuesday morning. The $1.4 billion spending plan does include a small property tax increase.

"My proposed 2014 tax levy increase is 1.6 percent," Mayor Barrett said.

That will generate nearly $4 million -- and part of that money will go to city safety, including hiring 100 new police officers.

"This allows us to complete the conversion of 50 police officers funded for three years by federal stimulus program into local funding," Mayor Barrett said.

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn praised Mayor Barrett's plan, especially in light of a violent summer.

Between July and August, there were 145 shootings and 29 homicides in the city.

"The Mayor and Council working together are doing all they can to give us the resources we need to deal with the recent spike in crime," Chief Flynn said.

The crime is driven by the city's foreclosure crisis, which includes 300 boarded up homes.

Mayor Barrett's plan involves devoting $11 million to reclaim and refurbish the properties.

"It's time to redouble our efforts.  My strong Neighborhoods Investment Plan will help preserve our housing stock and stabilize neighborhoods through a comprehensive approach: prevention, mitigation, revitalization and renewal," Mayor Barrett said.

Mayor Barrett also wants positive places for children to go, so he is planning to spend more money on neighborhood libraries.

"Our libraries anchor our neighborhoods," Mayor Barrett said.

Mayor Barrett asked the City Council not to mistake his optimism Tuesday with a lack of concern about the city's many challenges. He says those challenges remain, but right now, Milwaukee is in a good position to deal with them from a financial standpoint.