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| State Senator Chris Larson - 7th District |
This week we not only take a more in-depth look at the gender wage gap, but we also examine a budget provision that infringes on local control, the importance of libraries in our community, and how to make your voice heard on the budget. Continue reading for more information on these and other important issues.
Sincerely,
Chris Larson
State Senator, District 7
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In February of this year, legislative Republicans introduced legislation to supersede local control by eliminating Milwaukee's residency requirement for municipal employees, including teachers, police, and fire fighters. This attack on local control was also inserted into Governor Walker's 2013-2015 Biennial Budget.
Nearly 130 cities and towns across the state, including Milwaukee, have some form of residency requirement for various public employees. In Milwaukee, this requirement has been in place since 1938. I too have the requirement of living within the 7th Senate District if I wish to represent the people of that community. The slippery slope created by enacting this proposal could create a plague of infringement on local control regarding this and other issues that will likely spread beyond the borders of Milwaukee.
Village of Greendale President John Hermes voiced a similar perspective. According to recent news articles, at a public hearing before the Joint Finance Committee on the budget this past Monday, Hermes urged legislators to cut the budget provision prohibiting local governments and schools from having their employees follow residency guidelines.
He was quoted saying: "The requirement is especially critical to us. It has long been and should remain a home rule right." There is also growing bipartisan opposition within the Legislature, with Sen. Grothman and Rep. Kapenga openly opposing the proposal.
I agree that repealing residency requirements is a decision that should be left for local communities and governments to make. Local elected officials have the best understanding of the needs within their community. Should their constituents believe the current residency requirements are too restrictive, they are in the best position to act on those concerns. Residency requirements for city employees help to strengthen workers' bonds to the communities they serve, and maintain the integrity of the city's neighborhoods, economy, and services.
Specifically in Milwaukee, city employees help sustain stable, middle-class neighborhoods. Neither the Milwaukee Public School system, nor the Police and Fire Commission have had issues hiring and retaining quality employees from within the community. The long-term effect of large numbers of professional employees departing from the city would hurt the property values of homeowners in the surrounding neighborhoods, hindering the city's ability to provide services due to decreased property tax revenue.
Governor Walker's proposal has also elicited a great deal of opposition, including that by the League of Wisconsin Municipalities' board of directors, the Milwaukee Brotherhood of Firefighters, the ACLU of Wisconsin, and the Intergovernmental Cooperation Council, which consists of the chief elected officials in Milwaukee County municipalities. These groups share my belief that residency is a matter of local control and does not belong in the state budget.
Office Phone: (608) 266-7505
Toll-free Phone: (800) 361-5487
Email: Sen.Larson@legis.wi.gov
Mailing Address:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707
Web Site:
SenatorChrisLarson.com
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