MADISON— Today, the Assembly voted to pass a somewhat improved version of Assembly Bill 245, legislation to change how Wisconsin shares money with communities statewide to help them pay for critical services. Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement following passage:
“The deal voted on today is very far from perfect. I have been frustrated by the convoluted route taken to get to it, but I recognize that the financial future of Milwaukee – City and County — is at stake. We cannot let Milwaukee, nor our other cities, villages, and towns, continue to struggle because they receive less than the share of state revenues they deserve and need.
“In addition to changing Wisconsin’s shared revenue system, this compromise will invest $1 billion in K-12 education statewide. I am deeply grateful for this funding to support public schools, while sad our children became negotiating chips during the process. The majority party should have appropriated this education money in the state budget, as Gov. Evers had already asked them to do.
“Many other items were crammed into this package, many that I dislike intensely, not least being further sharp incursions on local control, insisted on by the majority party. However, in the end, I voted yes for this legislation. My communities deserve and desperately need as much state support as we can give to support their work providing essential services to Wisconsinites. These include, among many duties, public health and safety; repairing streets and sidewalks; and keeping libraries and parks open.
“Unfortunately, the process of making public policy can require swallowing bitter pills in order to achieve desired systemic changes. That’s what I felt was necessary to do today.”
