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Milwaukee County Leaders

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project a $50 million deficit

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next year, and a nearly

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$170 million shortfall

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in five years.

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That's if measures to cut

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costs aren't taken.

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So I understand that

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75% of the county's budget

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is mandated state services.

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Some of what you just spoke to

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including court operation

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and highway patrols.

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So what goes?

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The quality of life things

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like parks and pools?

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Absolutely.

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There are a number of

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also discretionary challenges

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that the county has.

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The county also has its

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transit program, which is

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facing a big challenge in 2027

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because it's finally exhausted

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the federal pandemic aid

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which stuck around a little bit

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longer for transit operations

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and other parts of government.

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So that's a challenge.

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It has a county courthouse that

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it needs to replace.

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That's nearly

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a half $1 billion project.

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Then you talk about its parks

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something like that amount

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in deferred maintenance

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to its park system.

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So it has a lot of

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generational challenges that

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are still pressing it

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pretty strongly.