Oh, wait. Hang on. Sorry.
Yeah, that would be key to record.
County Executive Crowley, thanks very much for joining us.
Thank you so much for having me. It's always a pleasure to be here.
So in signing your 2024 budget, you called it a new day for Milwaukee County.
How so?
Well, it is a new day in Milwaukee County.
Oh, hold on. I'm sorry. Excuse me. Yes.
I know. I thought maybe we would edit past that.
We were adjusting your camera and they took your shot, so they don't want that.
So, now you know the first question.
But stand by again.
County Executive Crowley, thanks very much for joining us.
Thank you for having me. It's always a pleasure.
So in signing your 2024 budget, you called it a new day for Milwaukee County.
How so?
Well, it is a new day for Milwaukee County.
And that is because of our partnership with the City of Milwaukee
and the Move Fork MKE coalition that we were able to secure our local option sales tax.
And the reason why this was a historic moment for Milwaukee County is
for the past two decades we've been operating within a deficit.
And because of Wisconsin Act 12, for the first time in over two decades,
Milwaukee County now has a surplus, giving us the ability to really make investments
in our entire community versus looking at what cuts will be least harmful to our community.
So it is a new day for Milwaukee.
So with this first budget surplus in more than 20 years, what are your priorities?
Well, we have a lot of different priorities for Milwaukee County.
And so really what we're thinking about is how do we want to continue to to operate
where we're going to reach our mission by achieving racial equity and becoming
the healthiest county in the state of Wisconsin.
One of the things that we were able to do was continue to invest into
our affordable housing program on top of the $12 million that we invested
from our ARPA funds.
And this is going to allow us to build a more single family homes
in the King Park neighborhood as well.
We're also breaking ground on our first health and human service building
that's going to be dedicated to a Milwaukee County residence.
It's allowed us to make sure that we can continue to have our
Milwaukee County transit system up and running, making sure that this crucial
and viable amenity is there for everyone.
We're also making sure that we can invest in our Milwaukee public park system.
But that's also to say that this allows us to support our criminal justice system as well.
When we think about our courts, our shares departments and our jails,
this allows us really to improve the quality of life.
What remain the biggest challenges for Milwaukee County
and how to address those going forward?
That's a great question, Frederica.
And when I think about Milwaukee County's financial situation where it is a little bit better,
we're still not out of the woods right now.
And so, yes, we will have a budget surplus for the next two years.
But our operations does, we'll see a deficit moving forward, starting in about 2027 or 2026.
And so it is my goal to continue to build upon the relationships that we've created
with the state of Wisconsin, as well as the federal government to bring back resources.
But one infrastructure project that I would love to tackle in the next upcoming years
is really our public safety building.
It's over 100 years old and it is the nerve system of our criminal justice system.
And so if we don't want justice deferred and we want to get our criminal justice up
and running, removing the backlog, this is going to be one of those critical issues
that we tackle in the near future.
What does the $500 million Brewer Stadium funding package mean for Milwaukee?
Well, when we think about the Milwaukee Brewers,
one is they are a huge cultural asset right here for Southeastern Wisconsin,
and quite frankly, the state, but they are also an economic asset.
And I'm proud that we were able to broker a deal with the state legislature,
with the governor's office as well, that not only protects our taxpayers right here
within Milwaukee County, but make sure that we keep the Brewers right here
for many years to come.
But what's very unique about this deal is that while we're able to protect our taxpayers,
we're able to get some financial flexibility for Milwaukee County
with that directly affects Act 12 that was passed this summer.
And so over the course of the next 27 years,
the Milwaukee County should be able to receive some financial flexibility
to the tune of about $229 million, which is dollars that gives us the opportunity
to invest back into the community when we think about the amenities that I mentioned
not too long ago, but again, to really improve the quality of life
for Milwaukee County residents and our visitors.
As you know, the Republican Convention promises to bring visibility
and an economic boost to Milwaukee.
But as a Democrat, will it be difficult to host that Republican message?
You know, as a Democrat, you know, I would have never thought that I would be a part
of the pitch to bring the Republican National Convention right here to Milwaukee.
But this isn't about red or blue when you think about partisan politics.
This is really about the dollars that we need to be infused right here
in our own community.
And we had the Democratic National Convention,
and that didn't fair out the way that we expected to be because of the pandemic.
So this really provides an opportunity for us to showcase what we have to offer,
as well as opportunity for many of our business owners right here in our own community.
And so I would say that my job is to make sure that this party goes off
without a hitch and everybody has an opportunity to enjoy everything that we have to offer.
This is the biggest promotion that we're going to have outside of the Democratic National Convention
or outside of a bucks championship win.
And so it is my hope that in the future that we'll be able to bring more conferences,
bring more things right back to our own community,
that allows us to really benefit from the economic activity
that has been happening throughout the years.
What is your message to all of Wisconsin about Milwaukee now and going forward?
Well, I think it's very clear that we want folks all across the state of Wisconsin
to look at Milwaukee County as a partner in the work that we're doing.
A strong Milwaukee means that we're going to have a strong state of Wisconsin at the exact same time.
And so we're not doing this work alone.
And we recognize that.
And that we are partners with every municipality within Milwaukee County
and that surrounds this entire state.
And so it is my hope that we can continue to foster authentic,
genuine dialogue to be able to tackle many of the issues that directly affect our entire state.
But more importantly, really changing the narrative and the perception of who we are
and what we absolutely contribute to the state of Wisconsin.
We want to be that destination of not just folks who want to be employed by great companies that are here,
but a destination for folks to be able to enjoy the events,
our nightlife and the restaurants and our dining experiences that we have to offer.
And so we're focusing on that.
And I'm really excited what these next couple of years are going to offer because of the partnerships
that we have been creating since I become County Executive.
Right, County Executive David Crowley.
Thanks very much.
Thank you so much.
It's always a pleasure again.
Nice.
A very, a very happy upbeat interview.
How unusual for all of us.
Can you also make this easy?
So I appreciate it.
Thank you so much.
And thanks to Jonathan as well for helping us arrange this.
Absolutely.
Thank you, Jonathan.
All right.
You all appreciate it.
Have a good trip.
I will.
Thank you.
Hopefully you have a happy holidays yourself.
Thank you.
Okay.
In the crew.
Thank you.
Bye.