This Just In ...
Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
Tom Taylor for Mayor
Why wait until April.
I’m going on record that I support incumbent Franklin Mayor Tom Taylor.
Taylor is a principled man I know and respect. Having worked with him personally on some critical issues, I know that he is clearly the best choice for voters.
In today’s NOW section of the Journal/Sentinel, reporter John Neville spoke with Taylor and his opponent, former Franklin Alderman Basil Ryan.
Ryan, who was bounced from the Common Council in a recall says, “We were promised our taxes would go down with the new businesses that were encouraged to come into the city. We haven't seen that. In fact, our property taxes have consistently gone up.”
He’s right about that. Your property taxes have gone up consistently. But is that Mayor Taylor’s fault or the fault of the Franklin Common Council?
I’ve chastised the Mayor and the Common Council for increases in spending and the city tax levy. But the city tax levy is only one portion of your property tax bill. That bill includes school, county, MATC, MMSD and state taxes, all of which have risen steadily.
Take out the property tax bill you just paid. Compare city of Franklin taxes to the other taxes on your bill. There’s quite a difference.
City leaders have attempted to hold the line. Could they have done a better job? Absolutely. But they’re not gouging us like the School Board.
Here’s another line from Neville’s story today:
If Ryan is elected mayor, he will work to bring down taxes in the city, partly by eventually reducing the size of city staff, he said.
Sorry, Basil. Giving a few city bureaucrats pink slips won’t make for significant tax savings, although it’s true salaries and benefits kill local governments. The key to providing real, honest to goodness property tax relief is to control and cut spending. A few job cuts here and there won’t solve anything.
Basil Ryan’s problems that led to his recall and subsequent ouster are well-known. Franklin didn’t want his services as Alderman. I doubt they really want him back as Mayor.
My vote is for Tom Taylor.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.