Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Missing the Forest for the Trees

The MJS and Milwaukee County Supervisors are in a tizzy about this county deficit. 

Sheepish Milwaukee County officials on Monday disclosed a $2.5 million deficit in housing programs but were at loss to explain how it happened.

The end-of-2006 shortfall in housing programs for the poor set off a torrent of criticism from county supervisors aimed at County Executive Scott Walker’s administration. It also prompted new reviews by the county and the local office of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, which funnels housing aid through the county.

But you have to read all the way down to the 14th paragraph to find this:

A separate report shows the county ended 2006 with $4.5 million surplus from other areas of the budget, for a net surplus last year of $2 million when the shortfall in the housing programs is subtracted.

So one department ran a deficit, which makes the headline, but overall Walker managed to squeeze a surplus out of the budget!  And all of this while drawing a hard line on tax increases. 

Sounds like darn good fiscal management by an elected official to me.

(10) Comments
Posted by Owen at 0748 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. If this was Doyle or Barrett you would be screaming bloody murder.  This is wasteful government at its best.  Why are you not asking who is going to be held accountable?  Answer because it is your boy Scott.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 27, 2007 at 1023 hrs


  2. How was is wasteful?  According to the story, it was because they didn’t get as much federal money as they thought they would and because of an accounting error.  It wasn’t that they spent more than expected. 

    That being said, I’m sure that there’s still waste in the MKE county budget.

    Posted by Owen on March 27, 2007 at 1028 hrs


  3. Whatever.  you still are not screaming for the accountability that you would have had it been Doyle or Barrett.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 27, 2007 at 1057 hrs


  4. “Whatever”.

    Now THAT is quite an argument.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 27, 2007 at 1110 hrs


  5. Calvin,

    It is a non argument for a non response on the part of Owen.  When he feels like answering then so shall I.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 27, 2007 at 1443 hrs


  6. I answered your point.  You said, and I quote, “This is wasteful government at its best.”  I refuted that point by illustrating that the story said that the deficit was NOT due to wasteful spending. 

    Your other point, “Why are you not asking who is going to be held accountable?  Answer because it is your boy Scott.” Is undermined by the falsehood of your first point. 

    Unless that was just a general statement that I never hammer on Republicans when they are doing a bad job.  But that point is demonstrably false by a quick look through my archives.  I hammer Republicans all the time - even the ones I like.  The fact that you didn’t know that just made me think that you must be new around here and it’s not really my job to bring you up to speed.

    Posted by Owen on March 27, 2007 at 1549 hrs


  7. I would like to comment on some of the things said on this post.  One, Owen you regularly take it a little easy on the republicans especially the ones you really like.  JB and Scott Walker are two of them.  That is not a criticism just an observation.  Honestly you have every right to do so.  I would say, however, that if Tom Barrett had announced that his office had an accounting error you would not have been so kind.  Second,  I have not commented recently, but I have read the blog quite a bit.  As always I disagree with most of what the conservatives say here, but I respect the opinions expressed by Owen because they are well thought out.  You may be wrong Owen, in my opinion, but you write a good blog.  One thing that I have noted is that Mickey seems angry.  Sadly this takes away from intelligent discourse.  Now that being said I would not call him a jackass, but I can see how some people would.  I started reading this blog on a regular basis and did so because of the quality of the opinions and the intelligence of the contributors.  Mickey, you demean the effort put forth by Owen and anyone else that tries to have a thoughtful informed conversation.  Please try to be a little more civil and raise the quality of conversation on this blog.  Also, name calling, by anyone, will never add to the conversation in a positve way.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 27, 2007 at 1854 hrs


  8. Thanks buffettfan.  I was wondering where you went off to. 

    BTW - I’m gearing up to hammer on the West Bend schools for their upcoming referendum.  Care to help wink

    Posted by Owen on March 27, 2007 at 1900 hrs


  9. We are just doing what all you TABOR fans wanted asking for a “simple referendum.”

    Join us tomorrow night for an informational meeting at the central office.  6:30 9:00pm Bring an open mind.  You are welcome to come.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 27, 2007 at 1904 hrs


  10. Thanks.  Wish I could.  I have a prior commitment (it’s Lent and there’s church on Wednesday).

    Posted by Owen on March 27, 2007 at 1918 hrs


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