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Barrett: Walker’s Budget Unfairly Attacks Milwaukee

Milwaukee’s mayor says it’s almost as if the state budget goes out of its way to harm the city.

Tom Barrett commented on the new biennial budget on Monday, after Gov. Scott Walker signed the document, and made vetoes, on Sunday.

The new budget eliminates Milwaukee’s 75-year-old residency requirement for city workers, as well as similar requirements around the state. Milwaukee officials fought to keep the requirement in place, saying it helps strengthen neighborhoods and keep up property values. Aldermen are considering suing the state over the provision, and keeping the residency rule in place – regardless of the budget language. They’re expected to vote on the matter on Tuesday.

Mayor Barrett says he’s also disappointed in a number of other areas of the budget, including its cut to funding that had been earmarked for the demolition of crumbling foreclosed properties. Milwaukee has hundreds of bank-owned and city-owned foreclosed homes and businesses, many of them in disrepair.

Ann-Elise is WUWM's news director.