Governor Walker weighs in on Milwaukee budget

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Governor Scott Walker says he does not support a sales tax increase to avoid public safety cuts in Milwaukee. 

Governor Walker says he'll work with Mayor Tom Barrett to avoid cutting firefighter and police positions, but he doesn't think a half-cent sales tax is the right way to do it.

The Mayor says Milwaukee is handcuffed by the state. 

He says Madison takes more money from Milwaukee taxes than it gives back to the government and won't allow Milwaukee to pass it's own sales tax. 

Barrett says a half cent sales tax could prevent cutting 75 firefighter and 33 police positions from next year's budget, but Governor Walker says he isn't signing off on that plan. 

On Wednesday, Governor Walker also spoke about his interview process when picking a new Milwaukee County Sheriff and his thoughts on the I-94 project being put on hold. See the full interview below. 

Full interview with Gov. Scott Walker from CBS 58 News on Vimeo.