After sales tax passes, Milwaukee Common Council could shift focus to suing over revenue restrictions
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The sales tax vote is just one part of the shared revenue bill that was signed into law last month. The Common Council is next expected to tackle the restrictions state lawmakers placed only on Milwaukee.
After Tuesday's vote, several alders signaled their support for a lawsuit to overturn those provisions.
After the sales tax vote, Mayor Cavalier Johnson said of the restrictions, "I don't want to see those things present."
Among the restrictions Johnson spoke of:
- The city's independent Fire and Police Commission can no longer set police department policy.
- MPS must bring police officers back into schools.
- And the city is not allowed to spend money on the streetcar or programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Several alders, led by Common Council President Jose Perez, say they'll sue to remove the restrictions. But Mayor Johnson was cautious when pressed Tuesday, saying only, "We will continue to work to make sure we can continue to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in Milwaukee."
Fire Chief Aaron Lipski was more decisive. Though the sales tax will effectively save a third of his force from being slashed, he said there was still work to do. "We are keenly aware of the riders in the Act 12 legislation, and we are keenly aware of how they target our least able to protect themselves citizens in this city."
Lipski said they will not sit idly by, and when asked about his support for a possible lawsuit, he said, "A thousand percent, yes. Yes."
Second district Alderman Mark Chambers went even higher, saying his support is at a "hundred-thousand percent."
Chambers is one of three alders who voted against the sales tax because he said that's what his constituents wanted.
At town halls throughout the city to discuss the sales tax, many of those people also expressed frustration with Milwaukee being mistreated.
Chambers said, "It's not for certain, but I would be 1,000% behind any lawsuit to take away any of this negative whatever you want to call it."