Don’t take budget tools away from local, county governments

Politicians like to talk.

They like to talk about what they have done — claiming credit for things they have shared in accomplishing or explaining why their efforts were blocked by opponents. They also like to talk about what they want to do.

Depending on the situation and circumstances, their words have different purposes. Sometimes it is to reinforce the support of their base, usually hitting on the key thoughts and ideas of their stump speech. Other times, they seek to float ideas and determine reaction.

In the next few weeks, the legislature will take up the state’s biennial budget. Passage of the state budget is the single most important job of the legislature every two years. The Wisconsin budget sets the course for governments from the state to the local level and includes policies and regulations that impact the lives of every Wisconsin resident.

For the past several weeks and months, legislators have been busy talking about things they want to see in the budget. Of particular interest is an apparent push to eliminate the ability of governments to exceed state-imposed revenue caps with debt service payments on capital projects such as roads and infrastructure.

Wisconsin counties, schools and municipalities are under state-imposed levy limits, with restrictions imposed at the state level to prevent local governments from raising property taxes willy-nilly. After all we wouldn’t want the level of government closest to the people wanting too much ability to serve the people. They might get the idea that they don’t need Madison politics quite as much.

The system allows state legislators to claim credit for reducing property taxes, while local elected officials get blamed for potholes and reduction in local services.

Talking about taking away budgetary tools while claiming they just want to close loopholes may make for good politics. The truth is it is poor public policy and one which could lead to every community needing to go to referendum to replace things like roads, bridges and dams or even to maintain existing government buildings. There is no doubt the revenue limit system needs to be changed. Imposing additional restrictions on local governments is a bad idea.

The best option would be to scrap the revenue caps entirely and return the power to the people to determine if their local governments are spending tax resources wisely and to hold them accountable for their decisions.

As a compromise between the two, the state should loosen the reins and at least allow governments to raise taxes based on the consumer price index rate. This would give local governments the ability to adjust during periods of higher inflation and help eliminate the need for supplemental borrowing.

Call on your legislators to stop making local governments the fall guys for Madison political games.

Members of The Star News editorial board include Publisher Carol O’Leary, General Manager Kris O’Leary and News Editor Brian Wilson.