Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Milwaukee County Supervisors and Self-Esteem

The Milwaukee County Board voted to raise taxes by overriding Scott Walker's vetoes, except one.

The Milwaukee County Board today easily brushed aside nearly all of County Executive Scott Walker's 2008 budget vetoes, restoring some $9 million in spending on parks, courts and social programs.

There was one notable exception: The board failed to override Walker's veto of a 4% pay raise for supervisors. Only 10 of 19 supervisors voted for the pay raise override - three short of the necessary two-thirds majority.

That virtually assures that supervisor pay stays at the same $50,679 salary for another four years.

Do you know what this means?

Of course, it means higher taxes.

It also means that county supervisors are condemned to wallow in a low self-esteem zone.

According to Lee Holloway, a raise is important so "that the legislative policy-making branch of county government has a positive sense of self worth."

He argues, "As chairman of the board, I want my colleagues to be enthusiastic about doing their job. I think they have sacrificed enough, and I think it’s fair for them to receive a pay raise."

He claims that no pay raise will make it harder for them "to continue to act progressively."

Those poor supervisors!


Nine supervisors actually voted NOT to override Walker veto on the pay raise. Obviously, that in itself is a sign of low self-esteem. They don't consider themselves worthy of a raise.


"I'm not good enough, I'm not smart enough, and doggone it, people don't like me!"


Is raising taxes an outgrowth of their low self-esteem?

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