WUI (Writing under the influence)

One would think that property taxes in Madison, WI can't go any higher. Well, one would obviously be a Republican and wrong.

The following are items I would scrap in 7 short strokes of a pen.

Hiring a fiscal efficiency auditor to analyze city spending, initiatives and services and offer recommendations on potential consolidations and efficiencies;

Moving forward on a Department of Civil Rights that will provide new services in language assistance, a recruiter, fair housing testing and minimum wage enforcement (both the auditor and the Department of Civil Rights will require final Council approval early next year);

Implementing an automated recycling system;

Hiring an Alcohol Policy Coordinator, in conjunction with the University;

Training project managers to shepherd large development projects through city processes;

Purchasing new computer software to streamline development review;

Investing $50,000 in energy-saving initiatives set forth by the Mayor’s Energy Task Force.

The first item on its face may seem like a step in the right direction. Color me skeptical. These people will never cut anything unless their lives depend on it. This is a token position for which a close cousin of the mayor will probably be hired. The mayor will tell people who object to raised taxes next year: "Look we even hired an expert and he tells us there is nothing we can do. It's all Bush's fault. And Halliburton's. And all those red states."