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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.
Ryan says he'll protect the taxpayers
Franklin mayoral candidate Basil Ryan has announced his “Fiscal Responsibility Agenda" in a news release:
RYAN UNVEILS FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AGENDA
Says tax and spending increases must end
FRANKLIN – Basil Ryan unveiled the campaign slogan “protecting the taxpayers” Thursday and challenged Mayor Tom Taylor to explain why the city tax levy has grown by 16% and spending by 27.5% since 2005.
The most recent Franklin budget increased the tax levy 5.7 % and raised spending by 7 percent, according to the city website. Yet, police did not get their full budgetary request, FranklinNOW reported (http://www.franklinnow.com/story/index.aspx?id=680897).
In a 2005 campaign pamphlet, Taylor promised to “hold the line” on taxes.
“That clearly hasn’t happened,” Ryan said. “We can do better.”
In the most recent budget, the percentage of city revenue that came from property taxpayers was the highest yet since 2005 – 60.8%, according to city records.
In an interview with FranklinNow on Wednesday, Taylor denied that taxes and spending have gone up by double digits and tried to downplay the tax increases since he became mayor. Ryan noted that “general government” categories have grown at a higher percentage in each of the past three years than percentage increases for public safety.
“In fact, public safety saw the smallest percentage increase of any category in the most recent city budget. As mayor, I will stop growing the size of administration at the expense of critical areas like public safety,” Ryan stated.
Mayoral challenger Ryan provided the following information off the city’s own website:
Franklin property tax levy
2005 $16,886,353
2006 $17,560,390
2007 $18,501,000
2008 $19,555,000
15.8% increase since 2005
Franklin expenditures
2005 $27,553,162
2006 $28,596,147
2007 $33,434,521 (amended budget)
2008 $35,150,429
27.5% increase since 2005.
Source (page 2):
http://www.franklinwi.gov/display/displayFile.aspx?docid=385&filename=/User/LHuening/Finance/2008%20Budget/2008_Budget_Summary.pdf
“Franklin residents can’t afford the increases, and the mayor deserves to level with them about the real numbers,” Ryan said. “The city must do its part to hold the line on taxes and spending, especially since other entities also haven’t done so, adding to a tax bill that is pricing some people out of their homes. As mayor, I will put an end to the increases, while continuing to enhance Franklin’s high quality of life, making this a great community to live in and raise a family.”
Ryan’s fiscal responsibility agenda would get a handle on escalating benefit costs, reduce city staff, and foster thoughtful development.
As a two-term alderman, Ryan fought for taxpayers, helping secure the largest tax reduction in Franklin's history.
“When taxes were proposed to go up 1.8%, I successfully froze the items that equaled the 1.8% increase to show my colleagues that the increase was not needed. It worked,” he said. “I will take the same approach as mayor."
Authorized and Paid for by Basil Ryan for mayor, Basil Ryan treasurer
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