Wisconsin shared revenue: Police in MPS schools among the strings

MILWAUKEE - Police officers could be coming back to Milwaukee Public Schools, and the city also would not be able to cut the number of firefighters and police officers moving forward. Those are just some of the strings in order for Milwaukee to get more money to avert a financial crisis.

"I think it’s going to improve morale, knowing that our members are going to have a partner that is not going to go backwards," said Alex Ayala, vice president of the Milwaukee Police Association.

"I think it’s very disappointing that they are trying to hold hostage our city and tell our residents what they should be spending and prioritizing their dollars on," countered Angela Lang of BLOC (Black Leaders Organizing Communities).

The number of police in Milwaukee has dropped in the past decade. In 2009, there were 1,965 sworn officers. In April 2023, there were 1,634.

The Wisconsin legislative Republicans' proposal would require the number not drop in the future, in exchange for allowing city voters to vote on a referendum to raise the sales tax. Milwaukee city and county leaders have requested allowing that referendum for years.

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"I don’t see many members want to cut any further from public safety," said Milwaukee Alderman Michael Murphy. "Obviously, I think we’re in a crisis with crime, and people would like to see more officers."

The Republican proposal to allow the sales tax referendum would also require Milwaukee Public Schools return to having police in the schools, with at least 25 school resource officers in the district.

"There can be a bond that can grow between an officer and a student," said Ayala. "You’re teaching kids that officers are not scary, that they are there to help you, and you could come to them with any problem that you might have at home or anywhere else. That’s someone you can look up to as a role model, to have those officers in the schools."

"This is not listening to the will of the people, but really providing your own agenda, despite what the community has publically said," Lang said.

Students at Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS)

For years, Milwaukee leaders have said without more resources, such as more shared revenue from the state and the sales tax addition, they’d face a financial crisis and big cuts.

"You can talk until the dogs come home, but now, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel," said Milwaukee Alderman Mark Borkowski. "And something has to happen, and so we’re at that stage."

The Wisconsin Republicans' plan would send every city, village, town and county at least 10% more in shared revenue. According to Wisconsin's Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Milwaukee currently gets $217 million. They’d get 10% more, or $239 million.

"This 10% would help, definitely," said Murphy. "Will it straighten out our structural imbalance? Probably not. We’re probably still going to have to make some cuts, but it brings us pretty close to it."

One of the city's biggest problems leading to a forecasted financial cliff in the next few years is its pension program. The added 2% sales tax, if approved by Milwaukee voters, would support pensions.

"The pension obligations probably face liabilities of about 155 million dollars. So, this would generate approximately 125 million, it depends on the year, so it wouldn’t cover it completely, but it certainly would go a long ways towards addressing that issue," said Murphy.

Other requirements the legislative proposal would place on Milwaukee in exchange for the sales tax referendum include: not spending more than 5% of the city budget on cultural or entertainment matters or nonprofit partnerships. Any new city jobs would need two-thirds vote of the common council. In addition, the proposal would mandate the city not use the tax money to fund a job that has a principal duty of "promoting individuals on the basis of their race, color, ancestry, national origin, or sexual orientation." 

Milwaukee would also not be able to use the tax money on the HOP streetcar. It would also make changes to the city's fire and police commission: stripping the FPC of its authority to manage the police and fire departments, and instead give that control to the fire and police chiefs.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson on Thursday, May 4 will share his opinions on the legislative text. Johnson and County Executive David Crowley, along with local leaders from around Wisconsin, will speak at the Wisconsin Capitol, as the Assembly hosts a public hearing on the shared revenue proposal.

At Milwaukee City Hall, some members of the Common Council shared their reactions with FOX6.

"Local control used to be a preeminent issue for the Republican Party and I would say: what’s changed where you’ve now stripped local control not just from Milwaukee but from all these cities, towns and villages in the state?" asked Murphy. ""It’s a bit frustrating that they put all these restrictions on our ability to really determine the fate of our city."

"I don’t know if any of us think it’s wonderful, but this is how we have to play the game. So, I think we should be grateful about finally being able to get some shared revenue. I’m sorry about the caveats," said Borkowski. "It’s never a perfect world, and nobody gets everything. They own the gold. He who has the gold, rules. So, they’re the rulers."