Title
A Resolution relative to an Advisory referendum in the City of West Allis concerning public support for, or opposition to, reduction in the size of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors on the election ballot for the Tuesday, April 3, 2012 election.
Body
WHEREAS, considerable public interest has been expressed in meaningful fiscal reform of Milwaukee County government as demonstrated in the recent creation of the elected position of County Comptroller by the Wisconsin State Legislature and approved by the Governor, and
WHEREAS, the citizens of Milwaukee County with this change expect balanced budgets in the future, less dependency on debt to balance the budget and more resources available for key county services, and
WHEREAS, the Milwaukee County Board in the future needs to function more as a policy-making body and not as a micromanagement entity of county departments and services, and
WHEREAS, the de facto duties and responsibilities of a Milwaukee County Supervisor need public scrutiny and review with the public being afforded an opportunity to express its opinion whether the job of Milwaukee County Supervisor should be full-time or part-time; and
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Counties Association advises the national average size of County Boards is 6.23 members; and
WHEREAS, over the past decade Milwaukee County has experienced significant reduction in the number of employees and services provided including the elimination of major areas of responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, Milwaukee County government is the only Wisconsin county without unincorporated areas thus reducing the degree of county oversight required; and
WHEREAS, the public, in numerous public hearings and other communications, has expressed concern about current and future budget deficits facing Milwaukee County, and
WHEREAS, the public has demanded a thorough examination of cost savings measures in all areas of county government, including the budget for the County Board of Supervisors; and
WHEREAS, the public has also raised questions on the size, responsibilities and cost of the Milwaukee County Board; and
WHEREAS, in light of Milwaukee County's pressing fiscal challenges and in the interest of determining the public's view of the proper role of the County Board, the citizens of our community should have an opportunity to have their say on whether the size of the County Board should be reduced; and
WHEREAS, this referendum will provide the position of our community on whether the size of the county board should be reduced.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that an advisory referendum concerning this issue shall proceed as follows:
Section 1. Referendum Election. The City Clerk/Treasurer is hereby directed to call an advisory referendum election to be held at the regularly scheduled election to be held on Tuesday, April 3, 2012.
Section 2. Official Referendum Ballot Form. The ballot to be used at the referendum election shall be prepared in accordance with Wisconsin Statutes and shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.