tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53653191377625281932012-01-30T16:18:44.367-06:00A Public Policy Forum blogJeff Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02184037843011498734noreply@blogger.comBlogger3631100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-20599811468861295452012-01-29T08:00:00.003-06:002012-01-30T11:35:47.272-06:00

In June 2010, in the wake of detailed media accounts of widespread fraud in the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy system and growing evidence that high-quality child care promotes positive academic outcomes, the Wisconsin Legislature approved a new quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) for the state’s nearly 8,500 regulated child care providers. In a new Forum report, we analyze initial

Joe Peterangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253477247246487466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-25220851988758546792012-01-25T11:45:00.001-06:002012-01-25T11:47:21.559-06:00

As reported earlier this week in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the UWM Center for Economic Development's latest report on race and employment paints a devastating picture of the depth of joblessness in Milwaukee's central city. According to the study, only 44.7% of African-American males in the City of Milwaukee between the ages of 16 and 64 were employed in 2010. That's the lowest rate ever

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-32768987570472087462012-01-18T08:15:00.003-06:002012-01-19T15:17:27.950-06:00

"Value-added" assessment is an increasingly popular method of evaluating the influence of schools and teachers on student achievement. Often, this analysis measures the impact of individual teachers on their students’ standardized test scores, while controlling for factors such as student demographics and test scores from previous years. While local and national education leaders have vigorously

Joe Peterangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253477247246487466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-44130895700514598802012-01-17T10:20:00.000-06:002012-01-17T10:21:09.550-06:00

According to a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel PolitiFact article, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele's decision to use $36.6 million in federal funds to buy new buses "kept" a campaign promise to "develop a plan" to finally spend the money, which was allocated to the region 20 years ago.While that assessment technically is correct, and while the county's fiscal condition provides ample

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-53998369294640778242012-01-12T08:00:00.001-06:002012-01-12T10:15:05.948-06:00

In 2003, California could have laid off every one of its state employees and still had a deficit, according to Alan Greenblatt of Governing Magazine. He explains, "Most of what states do, after all, is simply write checks to schools, hospitals and other entities that actually provide services." Which helps explain why, traditionally, attempts to reign in state costs have focused less on state

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-82363676486492494542011-12-28T08:00:00.000-06:002011-12-28T08:00:10.269-06:00

In each of the past 15 years, the Public Policy Forum has surveyed nonprofit leaders in southeast Wisconsin to gain insight into the financial health of their organizations and their success in generating support from philanthropic and government entities in Greater Milwaukee. This year’s 15th annual Report Card on Charitable Giving is based on the November 2011 survey responses of 95 nonprofit

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-30135728184904072312011-12-16T08:00:00.000-06:002011-12-16T08:00:02.374-06:00

In June 2010, Wisconsin’s Joint Committee on Finance approved YoungStar, a new quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) for the state’s nearly 8,500 child care providers. YoungStar supporters believe the new system will improve the overall quality of childcare in Wisconsin by motivating and supporting providers to make quality improvements and by providing parents with the information they

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-47776853021742738032011-12-14T08:00:00.001-06:002011-12-14T08:00:01.918-06:00

With the end of the year upon us, it’s time once again for the Forum to unveil its top five research findings of 2011. We started this annual tradition last year with a list that included findings on Milwaukee's skilled workforce, Milwaukee Area Technical College spending habits, and the imbalanced state of Milwaukee County's adult mental health system. This year's list is equally diverse and

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-76636700000505601432011-12-09T08:00:00.001-06:002011-12-09T08:01:58.944-06:00

The latest edition of the People Speak poll finds Milwaukee area citizens are concerned about health care costs in general, as well as the costs of the new health care reform law.Of the 436 residents polled in early November, a majority (62%) agree with Wisconsin joining 25 other states in challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care reform law. Residents do not seem to base their

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-38128929590725536482011-12-05T10:00:00.000-06:002011-12-05T10:00:10.360-06:00

On its face, the recent announcement that Wauwatosa mayor Jill Didier is leaving office to become Milwaukee County's new Economic Development Coordinator is promising news on the economic development front. As a former mayor, Didier obviously has strong connections to area business and municipal leaders, which should bolster the county's economic development activities. In addition, the specific

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-15182605370071302942011-11-15T08:00:00.001-06:002011-11-15T08:02:55.301-06:00

Recent local government and school district budget deliberations have honed in on deep and often contentious modifications to health care benefits. Many have asked how far local governments will go in reducing benefits now that they have been given greater flexibility to pare down employee health care costs without having to collectively bargain with most unions. These questions likely will

Vanessa Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12030550005898454906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-24072443890698827172011-11-13T06:00:00.002-06:002011-11-13T06:00:09.806-06:00

In a 2006 report on the City of Milwaukee’s economic development efforts, the Public Policy Forum concluded that “unlike the vast majority of its peer cities, the City of Milwaukee has neglected to sit down with stakeholders and map out an economic development plan. Absent a plan or guiding vision, one is left to conclude that the City has and will continue to engage in economic investments, no

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-89172746486586000312011-11-10T08:00:00.005-06:002011-11-10T08:52:43.981-06:00

The Occupy Wall Street demonstrations have sparked a public debate over income inequality that has spread across the nation and beyond. In Milwaukee, where the city’s poverty rate has ranked among the nation’s highest for several years, the issue of income inequality is a familiar one. Could it be, however, that the Milwaukee metropolitan area actually has slightly less income inequality than the

Joe Peterangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253477247246487466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-80285180932748455912011-10-31T09:30:00.000-05:002011-10-31T09:43:46.289-05:00

In a rare showing of bipartisan accord in Madison last week, the Wisconsin Assembly unanimously passed a bill allowing local governments to create new tax incremental financing (TIF) districts jointly between two bordering municipalities. The changes included in the bill raise several questions about how TIF currently is used in metro Milwaukee, and how it could be used most effectively. TIF is

Joe Peterangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253477247246487466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-34275396195697106782011-10-28T08:00:00.000-05:002011-10-28T08:02:35.371-05:00

Racine Unified School District (RUSD) implemented a district-wide vision for improvement in March 2009. Called the North Star vision, it is intended to specify "the path to successful completion of high school for all RUSD students with an ultimate goal of every graduate being ready for a career and/or college.” It includes performance targets at each grade level to be used in creating school

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-38194964645667695662011-10-24T08:20:00.000-05:002011-10-24T08:20:29.000-05:00

This afternoon the Public Policy Forum takes up the topic of the economic impact of academic research at our Viewpoint luncheon. One specific way in which research leads to job creation and business development is via technology transfer – the legal process in which new discoveries are patented, marketed, and licensed to commercial manufacturers. Southeast Wisconsin is home to several academic

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-56036814681824681112011-10-17T08:05:00.000-05:002011-10-17T08:08:30.997-05:00

In the Public Policy Forum's annual review of the Milwaukee County Recommended Budget - released this morning - we commend the administration’s efforts to establish clear priorities and make difficult decisions, but emphasize there is “still much work to be done” to address the county’s structural imbalance.Clearly, this is a budget that does not shy away from difficult spending cuts, ranging

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-79946756516023358742011-10-14T09:00:00.001-05:002011-10-14T09:03:53.485-05:00

This morning, the Public Policy Forum released its annual evaluation of the mayor's proposed City of Milwaukee budget. The 2012 budget is the city's first since passage of the state budget repair bill that ends collective bargaining for most unions, and a new state budget that severely limits property tax increases and significantly reduces aids to local governments.We find that the proposed

Vanessa Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12030550005898454906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-91894071882446608212011-09-23T08:00:00.000-05:002011-09-23T08:00:12.641-05:00

A thought-provoking essay in the current issue of National Affairs by the prolific and sardonic Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute calls for a retreat from education reform's long-held focus on closing the achievement gap. Hess feels the federal No Child Left Behind Act has, ironically, become "education policy that has shortchanged many children." His thesis is that by focusing on

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-9094889459126181142011-09-21T08:00:00.001-05:002011-09-21T08:00:14.079-05:00

Given how recent legislative events in Madison have transformed the lives of local government administrators in Wisconsin, it is ironic that hundreds of county and municipal managers from across the country have descended on Milwaukee this week for the annual conference of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). The conference, which began Sunday and lasts through today,

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-71489496496593185822011-09-16T08:29:00.001-05:002011-09-21T11:06:09.059-05:00

Milwaukee's private school voucher program, now in its twelfth year, is dwarfed by the 30-year-old voucher program in Chile, where almost half of all students attend private voucher schools. The Chilean program is therefore of significant interest to school reformers and researchers looking to make voucher and charter schools a success in the US.The most recent research, published by the Cato

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-81122170540339906952011-09-09T08:00:00.000-05:002011-09-09T08:00:00.847-05:00

Werner Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle states that one cannot simultaneously measure the location of a particle while also measuring the momentum of that particle. When you apply this principle to schools, it's a little disheartening--if we attempt to measure where we are now, we are no longer certain how fast we're improving. If the environment in which the measurement is taking place is also

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-19857854690715687162011-08-30T08:00:00.001-05:002011-08-30T08:00:14.296-05:00

Two recent reports have raised concerns about healthcare access for low-income Milwaukeeans. First, The Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee reported on Aurora Health Care’s relocation of orthopedic and heart surgeons from its Sinai Medical Center, located just west of downtown, to a new hospital in Grafton. The transfers have caused some to fear further service reductions at Sinai,

Joe Peterangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253477247246487466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-60589267483380522672011-08-11T08:00:00.004-05:002011-08-11T08:00:05.444-05:00

The Public Policy Forum's annual analysis of property values and property taxes in the seven-county southeast Wisconsin region - released this morning - finds that the amount of gross property taxes levied by local governments, school districts, technical colleges, special districts and other entities across the region increased by just 1.5% in 2011. That's the lowest year-to-year increase since

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-23670358612413339432011-08-04T08:00:00.002-05:002011-08-04T08:00:29.673-05:00

The open government data movement is a global effort to increase government transparency, civic participation and innovation through public access to municipal data. In the age of the ubiquitous software application (app) for use via personal computer or mobile device, governments around the world are profiting from the creativity of tech-savvy citizens by making data available for the

Joe Peterangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253477247246487466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-42631661653384478092011-08-03T08:00:00.002-05:002011-08-03T08:00:16.282-05:00

For those who hoped the changes to collective bargaining or the arrival of a new county executive might finally solve Milwaukee County's longstanding fiscal problems, we are sorry to disappoint. The Public Policy Forum's 2012 Milwaukee County Budget Preview report - released this morning - shows the county's budget prognosis actually has worsened since last year, leaving it with "few remaining

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-89646938522153660072011-07-22T08:00:00.004-05:002011-07-29T09:45:25.849-05:00

The latest edition of the People Speak poll, released today, finds that residents of southeast Wisconsin are mostly satisfied with the services they receieve from their city, town, or village government. The poll, conducted in late June and early July, surveys 391 adult residents of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha Counties.The majority of survey respondents also report feeling their

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-80182439865674564862011-07-18T08:00:00.006-05:002011-07-18T08:01:15.585-05:00

As the Public Policy Forum’s 2010-2011 Norman N. Gill Civic Engagement Fellow, I have completed my year-long project that analyzed how local governments raise revenue. The report, The tools in Milwaukee's revenue toolbox, stems from a 2009 Forum report that assessed the fiscal health of the City of Milwaukee. That report found that the city is over-reliant on state shared revenue as its main

CJ Szafirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582041776397923136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-15008001758128763172011-07-08T10:05:00.001-05:002011-07-08T10:08:39.641-05:00

There is a common presumption that when it comes to improving public school performance, constructive changes, whether originating at the top or the bottom, cannot take hold unless they are championed by the superintendent. The superintendent of the Atlanta Public School District is often cited as an example of the type of leadership that brings about dramatic improvement. Dr. Beverly Hall had

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-74998495140600493882011-07-01T08:00:00.000-05:002011-07-01T08:00:18.062-05:00

The announcement earlier this week by longtime City of Milwaukee Comptroller Wally Morics that he will not run for re-election in 2012 creates a vacancy in one of our region's most important, but least understood, elected public offices.The comptroller essentially functions as the chief financial officer for city government, exercising fiscal control, per the city Web site, "over the activities

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-21300924831276757432011-06-23T08:00:00.002-05:002011-06-23T10:02:15.011-05:00

Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele recently named Brian Taffora as Milwaukee County’s new director of economic development. According to the press release, the new director will be responsible for achieving Abele’s economic development priorities as well as several larger goals.Two of the specific priorities, as one might expect, involve job creation in the Park East and further job growth

David Helpaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362878175929417453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-69370422981531960212011-06-17T08:00:00.003-05:002011-06-17T08:03:20.362-05:00

With all of the doom and gloom surrounding the finances of Milwaukee County government, it is certainly worthy of attention when some promising fiscal news emerges from the Courthouse. Consequently, when the Public Policy Forum learned that the inmate population at the county's two adult detention facilities had plummeted, we took notice.In researching the matter, we found that not only had the

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-79561032523526991792011-06-13T08:00:00.005-05:002011-06-13T08:02:50.765-05:00

This morning, the Public Policy Forum released a comprehensive asessment of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD). This is the fourth in a series of reports analyzing the financial condition of major Milwaukee area local governments. It finds that while MMSD has experienced few of the financial difficulties experienced by others, it faces difficult long-term issues nonetheless.The

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-42193790969730540552011-06-06T12:00:00.000-05:002011-06-06T12:01:56.829-05:00

The Public Policy Forum has held an annual awards ceremony to honor outstanding government performance - the Salute to Local Government - for each of the past 18 years. As the Forum prepares to hold its 19th annual Salute on June 23 (see details and sign up here), it could be argued that at no time since the program's inception has the role and value of local governments and school districts been

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-66584784762315467082011-05-13T11:51:00.004-05:002011-05-13T11:57:51.865-05:00

A New York Times article yesterday noted that financially-challenged municipalities across the country are calling on land-holding non-profit/tax-exempt organizations to make larger contributions in lieu of property taxes. These organizations, usually college campuses or hospital facilities, might represent a significant portion of a municipality’s property tax base. These “eds and meds” thus

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-58518512275124831612011-04-29T08:35:00.005-05:002011-04-29T08:39:07.384-05:00

New results from a statewide survey of 1,425 child care providers show that Milwaukee County providers compare favorably to providers across the state with respect to several measures that will be rewarded under the state's new YoungStar child care rating system.The survey, conducted by the Forum in partnership with the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, was designed to provide a picture of

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-21909242866620388522011-04-27T08:00:00.004-05:002011-04-27T08:17:18.425-05:00

As the Public Policy Forum’s 2010-2011 Norman N. Gill Civic Engagement Fellow, I am working on a year-long project examining how local governments raise revenues. An earlier blog post on the project discussed alternatives to financing local governments, including a local sales tax. Overall, 33 of the 45 states that have a sales tax also allow their local governments to levy one. In addition, 43

CJ Szafirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582041776397923136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-77197960222217168642011-04-12T08:20:00.002-05:002011-04-12T08:24:08.284-05:00

In the weeks since release of the governor's proposed 2011-13 state budget, much has been spoken and written about the potential impacts of cuts in state aids on local government budgets and services. Yet, while much of the discussion has focused on high-profile cuts to shared revenues, municipal recycling grants and general transportation aids, buried within the budget are dozens of

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-75464313916598577942011-04-01T08:49:00.011-05:002011-04-12T08:28:01.107-05:00

The latest People Speak Poll, conducted by the Public Policy Forum and the Center for Urban Initiatives and Research at UWM in partnership with The Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee, finds that the state budget ranks as the most important issue in the minds of southeast Wisconsin residents. The poll of 400 residents of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington Counties was conducted

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-56107463803909419302011-03-29T08:00:00.002-05:002011-03-29T09:48:39.535-05:00

A common complaint about education reform is the slow pace with which it takes place. I've often heard the analogy, "Improving a school system is like turning a battleship." In contrast, political changes can occur quite rapidily, as this state has witnessed over the past several months. And while the Forum's mission is to conduct timely and topical research, sometimes the policy world moves

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-39023235564389473292011-03-23T08:00:00.005-05:002011-03-23T15:40:33.137-05:00

Most local governments in Wisconsin have certainly given their employee compensation packages a closer look over the last few weeks as the budget repair bill receives judicial consideration in Madison. The eventual implementation of what now has passed as Wisconsin Act 10 may soon be approaching, and elements within it are certain to help governments in some respects, but may tie their hands in

Vanessa Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12030550005898454906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-39342084069351336132011-03-11T08:00:00.003-06:002011-03-11T08:00:04.408-06:00

A key transportation provision in the governor's proposed budget that may have huge implications for mass transit also reflects a larger ideological debate that's raging in the nation's capital.The provision stipulates that effective in 2013, state operating assistance for local transit systems no longer will be provided from the state's transportation fund, but instead will come from General

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-6330294756221280702011-03-09T10:32:00.007-06:002011-03-09T15:50:08.553-06:00

Gov. Walker’s proposed 2011-2013 biennial budget calls for an expansion of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program by repealing the enrollment cap, allowing private schools anywhere within Milwaukee County to participate, and expanding eligibility to all City of Milwaukee families by eliminating income limits.During tough budget deliberations, it would be good to know whether the expanded choice

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-31588118242087430682011-03-04T08:00:00.014-06:002011-03-04T08:05:33.177-06:00

The economic downturn has thrown even the most fiscally prudent governments for a loop. Dollars are stretching thin and new approaches to employee compensation are spreading across the nation. In light of the effects of the economic downturn, and as a measure to prevent similar fiscal vulnerability in the future, governments are particularly honing in on the manner in which they provide pension

Vanessa Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12030550005898454906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-40126033320894388702011-02-28T08:00:00.000-06:002011-02-28T08:00:01.528-06:00

Wisconsin annually ranks below average when it comes to recouping our share of federal aid. In 2008, for example, the state was 38th in percentage of revenue received from the federal government.But in 2009, the amount of federal aid available to states increased dramatically due to the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and the amount of federal revenue received by

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-85853470563745706212011-02-21T08:00:00.002-06:002011-02-21T08:00:13.733-06:00

Milwaukee's private school voucher program, known as the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP), enrolled slightly fewer students this fall than in the previous year. That makes 2010-2011 the first school year without growth in the program since its expansion to include religious schools in 1998-1999. The Forum analyzes 13 years of school choice data in our newest report on the program,

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-75440065847455506632011-01-31T08:00:00.002-06:002011-01-31T08:00:14.226-06:00

During the past three years, the Public Policy Forum has churned out more than a half-dozen reports on issues pertaining to Milwaukee County government as part of our mission to educate the public about key policy issues impacting the region's economy and quality of life.Those include an award-winning report on the county's transit funding crisis; a comprehensive review of the fiscal condition of

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-61675390251860804202011-01-25T08:00:00.000-06:002011-01-25T08:00:07.309-06:00

A new survey of nearly 400 residents of the Milwaukee, Kinnickinnic, and Menomonee River watersheds shows opinions are mixed on the role of government and the impacts of individual actions on protecting the region’s water resources.The survey, designed and analyzed by the Public Policy Forum and commissioned by 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, also shows that citizens rank “the quality of water in the

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-90479508755935649472011-01-10T08:30:00.000-06:002011-01-10T08:30:01.378-06:00

As the Public Policy Forum’s 2010-2011 Norman N. Gill Civic Engagement Fellow, I am honored to be working on a year-long project that will examine how municipal governments in Wisconsin raise and spend their tax dollars. Over the next five months, I will be sharing some of my research with the blog. Ultimately, my research will lead to a paper that will discuss alternatives to financing municipal

CJ Szafirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582041776397923136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-45043302541817034632010-12-20T08:00:00.000-06:002010-12-20T08:00:09.377-06:00

For years, the Public Policy Forum has urged local governments to use performance measurement as a means of tracking progress toward strategic objectives and educating constituents about the outcomes associated with various government services and expenditures. Today, as government budgets grow tighter and taxpayer tolerance for spending money on all but the most essential services diminishes, it

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-40738156899654719902010-12-16T08:00:00.001-06:002010-12-16T08:00:09.729-06:00

While the problems experienced by Milwaukee County's Behavioral Health Division (BHD) justifiably receive considerable attention in the local news media, there also are some shining success stories that seldom are reported.One obvious example is the division's Wraparound Milwaukee program for children with complex mental health and emotional needs, which received an "innovations" award from

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-36880751431610312822010-12-13T08:15:00.002-06:002010-12-13T08:19:52.472-06:00

The Forum recently received a communication from a national research group detailing its top five findings this year. That got us to thinking about our top five research findings of 2010. The competition was stiff, but here they are, in chronological order (drum roll please):Southeast Wisconsin's skilled workforce may be its greatest economic strength. Our March Innovation Index report

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-73538725551708757142010-12-10T07:00:00.002-06:002010-12-10T07:00:01.521-06:00

Most area residents are at least somewhat concerned about increases in energy costs and, accordingly, most say they have taken steps to conserve energy. That’s according to the latest People Speak poll of 395 residents of Southeast Wisconsin, which also shows that most citizens in the region are willing to pay more for fuel efficient cars, appliances, and homes, and that most support certain tax

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-32201167948326784792010-12-08T08:00:00.001-06:002010-12-08T08:00:04.722-06:00

The Forum's latest report on early childhood education finds the original goals of welfare reform produced state child care policies that had detrimental impacts on child care quality and that may be difficult to reverse under YoungStar, the state’s new quality ratings system initiative.The report finds that as the existing Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy system became operational, certain

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-79411280847089219922010-11-11T08:00:00.002-06:002010-11-11T08:00:02.321-06:00

Recognizing that a prosperous metro Milwaukee depends on an educated workforce, a new Talent Dividend Initiative has emerged in Milwaukee to boost regional educational attainment. The initiative - which is comprised of workforce development, economic development, and educational organizations across southeast Wisconsin - has set its sights on increasing the percentage of adults in the region with

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-15506873221622314532010-11-08T10:20:00.000-06:002010-11-08T10:22:03.355-06:00

The Public Policy Forum’s recently released 2011 City of Milwaukee budget brief notes that Milwaukee’s budget includes significant allocations to curb the effects of foreclosures in city neighborhoods. Many of the city’s new and enhanced initiatives are funded with grant dollars from the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), which has helped foreclosure strategies throughout the state

Dan Lindbergnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-10324698094154993852010-10-28T08:45:00.001-05:002010-10-28T08:47:46.858-05:00

The recently initiated debate regarding pay-only express lanes (also known as high-occupancy toll, or HOT lanes) on Wisconsin highways mirrors the discussion in other jurisdictions that have pursued such lanes.On the one hand, local opponents, like those in Arlington, Virginia, say "Lexus lanes" only will serve wealthy commuters and their construction creates the same pollution and sprawl impacts

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-7849032089666289422010-10-21T08:00:00.001-05:002010-10-21T08:00:10.935-05:00

The politicization of a recent disclosure that a leading civic organization has discussed potential bankruptcy for Milwaukee County is not surprising. But putting aside the politics, shouldn't we be asking whether, from a government finance perspective, bankruptcy is a realistic or viable option for the county?A recent article on the Governing website examined the question of whether we're likely

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-5400864981235461602010-10-18T08:00:00.001-05:002010-10-18T08:00:05.259-05:00

When the Forum took a look at school district governance reform in a February 2009 report, we found the success of mayoral control of school districts has as much to do with the personality of the mayor as with his/her education policies. That finding is about to be put to the test in two cities where mayors with strong education records soon will be leaving office.The education reform world was

Vanessa Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12030550005898454906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-8114808020541049152010-10-15T08:00:00.001-05:002010-10-15T08:00:00.612-05:00

The Public Policy Forum's annual analysis of the Milwaukee County recommended budget - released this morning - focuses on the significant wage and benefit concessions that allow the county executive to bridge the county's annual structural gap while averting major service cuts and revenue increases.The analysis emphasizes the necessity of stringent controls on wages and deep cuts in benefits

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-2352929543476905532010-10-14T08:00:00.001-05:002010-10-14T08:00:07.302-05:00

New York state's standardized education exams, like tests in Wisconsin and many other states, have been used to gauge the effectiveness of school reform efforts. The reforms that have been credited with improving test scores in New York City include mayoral control, charter schools, and teacher bonuses. But critics have long taken issue with these findings by raising questions about the tests

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-2635868580571684052010-10-13T08:00:00.001-05:002010-10-13T08:00:07.556-05:00

In our annual analysis of the City of Milwaukee's proposed budget - released this morning - the Public Policy Forum discusses the "remarkable reversal" in the city's required pension fund contribution, which significantly eases the financial pressures that have characterized most city budgets this decade. We point out, however, that this is only a temporary reprieve from the city's difficult

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-62877749159091153932010-10-11T08:00:00.002-05:002010-10-11T09:55:19.162-05:00

The state's budget analysts seem confident of the economy's recovery. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Wisconsin is one of 40 states predicting FY 2010 to be the low point of the recession by forecasting higher total tax collections in FY 2011. Wisconsin's forecast is for 5.4% growth in total taxes collected, a rate of growth only 16 other states expect to exceed.With

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-48195425143518947372010-10-06T09:30:00.003-05:002010-10-06T10:05:37.927-05:00

A recent series of articles in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on safety issues at Milwaukee County's Mental Health Complex is the latest to raise questions about the level and quality of mental health care in our community. Unfortunately, while these exposes have ranked high in shock value, they have yet to produce the comprehensive redesign of the public and private mental health systems that

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-51967254116316030682010-10-05T08:00:00.001-05:002010-10-05T08:00:10.348-05:00

Identifying the right group of metro areas with which to compare Milwaukee is a frequent dilemma for Public Policy Forum staff. Our answer is ever evolving. Typical decisions affecting our choices include level of geography (city, metropolitan statistical area, seven-county region), population size, data availability, and project timeline and resources. Depending on the project, we may be looking

Laura Millionnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-81241194268587062332010-09-29T07:30:00.001-05:002010-09-29T07:30:01.521-05:00

The 14th annual "Report Card on Charitable Giving" - released by the Forum today in partnership with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation - shows moderate improvement over last year in the fiscal health and general outlook of Metro Milwaukee nonprofit organizations. Nonetheless, nonprofit leaders continue to express a healthy dose of pessimism toward the state of philanthropy and continue to feel the

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-56393452411521417422010-09-22T07:30:00.003-05:002010-09-22T07:30:02.098-05:00

Today, the Forum released the third in its series of financial reports on local taxpayer-funded entities in Metro Milwaukee: a comprehensive fiscal assessment of the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC). This report uses the same fiscal monitoring methodology as 2009 reports on Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee, which were recognized with an award for "most effective education"

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-69626486802437406082010-09-09T08:00:00.001-05:002010-09-09T08:00:10.394-05:00

The notion of linking teacher salaries to student outcomes has been one of the country's most talked-about education reform topics of late, causing us to wonder in an earlier blog whether Milwaukee's new superintendent had this controversial idea on his radar screen.But now, out of Houston, comes a concept that undoubtedly would generate even more controversy if attempted locally: paying students

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-62040695458746853172010-09-06T08:00:00.000-05:002010-09-06T08:00:04.836-05:00

Wisconsin ranks among the 10 most expensive states for child care in a new report from the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies.The NACCRRA found that full-time care for an infant in the average Wisconsin child care center, at $10,520 per year, exceeds 13% of the annual median family income for a two-parent family, placing Wisconsin among 36 states for which the cost

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-83142800355381313552010-09-02T08:00:00.003-05:002010-09-02T08:26:52.606-05:00

The Forum's annual analysis of public school districts in southeast Wisconsin is released today, and finds the regional academic achievement scores continue to come more in line with the statewide scores. Unfortunately, lower scores in the rest of the state contribute to the smaller difference as much as improved scores in the seven-county region.The report also finds that while the region does

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-27690395784694508722010-08-02T09:35:00.001-05:002010-08-02T09:37:18.997-05:00

Every summer, members of the Governmental Research Association (GRA) - an association comprised of organizations devoted to government research from across the United States - get together to exchange research ideas, discuss topical issues and recognize outstanding research products.It should come as no surprise that at this year's conference, held in New York City last week, a primary topic of

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-16013608317962103022010-07-20T10:00:00.003-05:002010-07-21T10:44:17.436-05:00

Tight budgets are causing many local governments to revisit labor agreements in search of cost savings. Around Milwaukee we've seen labor concessions to avoid layoffs at MATC and the city; unpaid furlough days at the city and county; and teacher layoffs at MPS. While a portion of the laid-off teachers were called back last week, the MPS layoffs have been portrayed as the most drastic labor

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-3160314823092149902010-07-13T07:45:00.001-05:002010-07-13T07:46:37.814-05:00

This morning, the Public Policy Forum released its latest report analyzing the fiscal predicament of Milwaukee County government. The report previews the county's 2011 budget scenario and also includes analysis of its five-year fiscal outlook.In the past, we have raised sharp concerns about the county's fiscal condition and we have been critical of its inability to address its challenges

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-77137534592565873202010-07-09T08:00:00.004-05:002010-07-09T08:46:51.017-05:00

The Public Policy Forum's annual report on property values and taxes in southeast Wisconsin was released this morning with a not-so-surprising conclusion: property tax rates are on the rise as local governments and school districts struggle to maintain existing service levels in the face of declining values.The Forum has been compiling taxing, spending and property valuation data from each of the

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-3809351192983728582010-07-01T08:15:00.002-05:002010-07-01T09:50:09.700-05:00

Since its establishment in 2005, the Main Street Milwaukee (MSM) Program has been a highly touted economic development program designed to promote economic growth and revitalization in six selected city neighborhoods. MSM - a partnership between the City of Milwaukee Department of City Development (DCD) and the local chapter of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) - is a key component

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-80973793603444032052010-06-28T08:00:00.001-05:002010-06-28T08:00:03.513-05:00

In recent years, the Public Policy Forum has not been bashful about articulating the perilous fiscal condition of Milwaukee County government. Our intention has not been to "pile on," but to objectively discuss the size, scope and origin of the county's fiscal challenges and the need for a strategic approach to address them.Our March 2009 report on the county's fiscal condition, for example,

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-20385500340561043172010-06-25T08:00:00.001-05:002010-06-25T08:12:35.538-05:00

The June 2010 People Speak poll, conducted in conjunction with the UWM Center for Urban Initiatives and Research and The Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee, covers several transportation issues, including congestion, transit options, revenue diversification, and regional governance.The People Speak is a tracking poll, conducted at regular intervals throughout the year. Its purpose is to

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-40216929272802866682010-06-02T08:00:00.001-05:002010-06-02T08:00:02.952-05:00

"When the going gets tough" is the theme of this year's Salute to Local Government, an event held annually by the Public Policy Forum since 1992 to recognize outstanding and innovative government performance in southeast Wisconsin.This year's theme recognizes that as bad as the historic economic downturn has been for all sectors of our economy, the local government sector has been among the

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-34917112947317154452010-05-28T08:00:00.001-05:002010-05-28T09:12:01.912-05:00

Like tenure reform, discussed in yesterday's post, tying teacher salaries to student outcomes is a controversial education reform strategy that is gaining traction across the country, but has yet to be debated in Milwaukee. Many of the recent efforts come from the federal Race to the Top grant guidelines, which expressed a preference for states that included student outcomes as a factor in

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-51148505102721150602010-05-27T09:30:00.000-05:002010-05-27T09:48:28.424-05:00

Milwaukee is often called ground zero for education reform, and for good reason. We have been on the forefront of reforms such as budget decentralization, school-to-work, neighborhood schools, parental choice, charter schools and, the most recent attempt, governance reform. There are two hot-button issues, however, that have not been on the agenda here: merit pay and tenure reform. But, with both

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-15676022243399621572010-05-25T08:45:00.000-05:002010-05-25T08:48:14.812-05:00

Milwaukee County Parks Director Sue Black's assertion last week that her department lacks the funds to take over the Farm and Fish Hatchery has reignited debate about the farm. This year's county budget transferred the program – a perennial target for cuts by the Walker administration -- from the sheriff’s office to the parks department midyear, at a reduced funding amount. The County Board's

Melissa Kovachnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-44793768871269407292010-05-17T08:00:00.002-05:002010-05-17T08:09:22.656-05:00

Two local university professors have waded into one of the most controversial public policy questions of our day: is the compensation of government workers out of line with the private sector?The relevance of the question is obvious in the wake of the severe recession and its impact on the ability of governments at all levels to maintain existing services. It gained considerable traction with

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-4656910945277213982010-04-30T07:30:00.001-05:002010-04-30T07:30:00.240-05:00

The City of Milwaukee's recent announcement of a $23 million budget surplus for 2009 - following closely on the heels of Milwaukee County's announcement of an $8.9 million surplus - has engendered the expected spin-doctoring from the gubernatorial campaigns of the mayor and county executive, as well as their legions of supporters and detractors.Last year, the Public Policy Forum conducted

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-47544565530406677532010-04-29T08:00:00.003-05:002010-04-29T08:41:47.377-05:00

A Public Policy Forum survey of healthcare employers finds that despite near-record unemployment rates in the region, southeast Wisconsin’s healthcare sector faces a distinctive challenge: finding sufficient numbers of qualified and trained workers to fill current and future job openings. Survey respondents said applicant quality (60.7%) and retaining qualified workers (30.2%) are the biggest

Laura Millionnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-56723883536294181542010-04-27T08:30:00.001-05:002010-04-27T08:54:07.192-05:00

Faced with its toughest budget ever, Colorado Springs, Colorado, has made service cuts so severe they've garnered national (and international) media attention from outlets ranging from CNN to the Wall Street Journal. The stories have each been written in one of two ways:If taxpayers refuse to support tax increases, government will be forced to make draconian cuts in service. Colorado Springs is a

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-24658055457121064502010-04-26T08:00:00.001-05:002010-04-26T08:01:39.896-05:00

The need to engage in long-term strategic planning has been a consistent theme from the Public Policy Forum in our analyses of local government budgets, as well as our reports on local government policies in areas like economic development and housing.It is important to note that our passion for planning does not stem from an idealistic belief that the problems of local government can be solved

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-1132909209741140992010-04-15T08:00:00.001-05:002010-05-14T09:17:10.159-05:00

Over the past few days, four former MPS superintendents have met in two public forums to share the lessons they have learned about running the state's largest school district. In both forums a recurring theme was Howard Fuller's contention that: "I was in charge, but I wasn't in control."His meaning, with which the other former superintendents generally agreed, was that the labor contracts with

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-88174692956239445562010-04-09T07:45:00.000-05:002010-04-09T07:45:00.894-05:00

A new study from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) examines the costs of serving homeless individuals and families and explores cost-saving possibilities in differentiating services according to individual characteristics.HUD finds that different types of first-time homeless individuals and families use system resources differently, so some opportunities exist to improve

Melissa Kovachnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-76817509385327892782010-04-07T08:43:00.000-05:002010-04-07T08:50:35.735-05:00

Amid all the concern about government budget woes both nationally and locally, good news is emerging about the ability of some governments to respond by pursuing greater efficiencies.A recent example comes from Philadelphia, where the Inquirer reports the city expects to save $9 million this year in incarceration costs from "what appear to be groundbreaking changes in the way courts and prisons

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-1257728880323407762010-04-01T08:00:00.007-05:002010-04-01T08:45:56.745-05:00

The severity of our recent recession has forced local governments to respond in ways that they would admit are less than ideal. For example, the need for instant savings has produced furloughs, shortened work weeks, and even truncated school weeks - strategies that may stave off immediate crises but may not be sustainable in the future.Unfortunately, while the worst of the recession may be behind

Vanessa Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12030550005898454906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-46057121286777756912010-03-17T12:00:00.002-05:002010-03-17T12:00:01.464-05:00

As elected officials, business leaders and economic development officials across the country work to position their regions to compete successfully in the 21st century global economy, "innovation" has become a key theme.While not easily definable, "innovation" when applied to economic development generally is thought of as applying knowledge and new ideas to the workplace to generate jobs and

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-29226546368737858452010-03-15T07:30:00.002-05:002010-03-15T07:31:40.130-05:00

Interesting news out of Indianapolis, where Mayor Greg Ballard has announced plans to move forward with a sale of the city's water and sewer utilities. The deal reportedly would net the city an upfront payment of $425 million, which it would use to address significant infrastructure needs. The new owner - a public charitable trust called the Citizens Energy Group - also would assume about $1.5

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-58174740451158164932010-03-12T08:00:00.001-06:002010-03-12T08:00:05.404-06:00

The winter 2010 People Speak Poll, conducted in conjunction with the Center for Urban Initiatives and Research at UWM and The Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee, focuses on water issues including quality, quantity, governance, and economic development. The People Speak is a tracking poll conducted at regular intervals throughout the year. Its purpose is to gather information from local

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-43269671111642952022010-03-09T09:00:00.000-06:002010-03-09T09:07:27.691-06:00

In an intriguing piece in Sunday's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Alan Borsuk suggests a simple solution to curb runaway health care costs for the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS): eliminate the district's preferred provider health care option, and require all employees and retirees to enroll in the district's less expensive health maintenance organization (HMO) option. Citing MPS budget officials and

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-13216518739824773942010-03-04T08:00:00.000-06:002010-03-04T08:00:04.347-06:00

How to define and measure poverty in the U.S. has long been an issue of debate. This is not an esoteric argument--most federal and state entitlement and benefit programs tie eligibility to need using the official measure of poverty. Any move to change the definition will have an effect on these programs and the families participating in them.This week the Commerce Department announced the

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-6238487838111409042010-03-02T08:00:00.001-06:002010-03-02T08:00:09.688-06:00

Last week’s “Water and People” conference presented by the Marquette University Law School underscored the importance of water to Wisconsin in terms of a natural resource, an economic development driver, and a commodity to be regulated and potentially traded. Numerous speakers described Wisconsin residents as being far ahead of other areas in understanding water’s importance and influence on

Melissa Kovachnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-88782943008216902232010-02-22T08:30:00.002-06:002010-02-22T08:31:51.191-06:00

Government furlough days are in the local news again, with a report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Saturday that Milwaukee County may consider up to 10 additional required days off without pay this year for certain employees. But Milwaukee County isn't the only place where furloughs have become a key budget-cutting strategy.Governing Magazine columnist Girard Miller recently wrote that "

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-79761247475218617312010-02-19T07:00:00.003-06:002010-02-19T07:00:10.166-06:00

In the Forum's 12th annual census of schools participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP), we found that recent regulation changes have had an impact on the number of schools participating in the program. Between the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years, the program saw far fewer new schools join and many other schools close or drop out of the program. Thirteen of the 14 schools

Anneliese Dickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593409162432435083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-83526222864171793552010-02-09T07:00:00.000-06:002010-02-09T07:00:06.860-06:00

The Governing Magazine web site recently published a provocative piece declaring the first decade of the 21st century the "decade of infrastructure." While acknowledging the many infrastructure challenges still facing the United States, the piece argues the past decade was the one in which Americans came to grips with the importance of their roads, bridges and transit systems. It also cites

Rob Henkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252538689924464268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365319137762528193.post-14453725193452009632010-02-05T08:00:00.000-06:002010-02-05T08:00:01.026-06:00

Recent stock market volatility has had a negative impact on public pension systems and governmental budgets. Even the best managed systems have seen unfunded liabilities grow dramatically, causing governments to rethink the basket of public services provided. Many governments are also considering cuts less noticeable to the public, but impactful to public employees.Does the tremendous need for

Vanessa Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12030550005898454906noreply@blogger.com0