County Executive Abele Asks the State to Restore Transit Funding

For Immediate Release                                                                                               
DATE: April 4, 2013
Contact: Brendan Conway, Communications Director
414.278.5281 Office
Brendan.Conway@MilwCnty.com
Twitter: @MkeCoExecPress

 

County Executive Abele Asks the State to Restore Transit Funding

 

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele testified in front of the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC) today. The JFC met in Greendale for the first of four public hearings across the state on Governor Scott Walker’s proposed budget.

Abele is asking legislators to restore the 10% cut in transit funding with interest. More than 150,000 people rely on Milwaukee County Transit every day to get to work, school and job training. Routes could be cut and fares might increase if the state does not add money back into the system.

“Few priorities are as important in the current economy as creating and maintaining private sector jobs,” Abele said. “That is why we are especially concerned about the proposed budget’s effects on our already severely strained transit system.”

Abele is also urging the JFC to restore money for statewide Child Support Services. The proposed reduction of $4.25 million state-wide would result in an additional loss of $8.5 million in federal matching revenues. Any cut to Child Support Services reduces the County’s ability to empower families.

The text of County Executive Abele’s testimony can found online:
http://county.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/cntyExecutive/Press_Releases/2012/FinalJFC.pdf