STATE NEEDS TO RUN TIGHTER SHIP

I went to the news conference of Wisconsin mayors regarding Gov. Scott
McCallum's budget. All were opposed to his plan. McCallum does not
understand how local government works. Many of his statements were wrong or
cynically misrepresentative.

Local Wisconsin governments are tightfisted; their average annual budget
increases are 3% - less than half the state's 6.9%.

Here are my suggestions for state cuts:

Cut all elected state officials' salaries by 10%.

Reduce legislative staffs by 7.75%.

Cut the Department of Administration's staff by 11.5%.

Stop all new construction of state buildings.

Consolidate some state office staff in one building and sell two old state
office buildings.

Cut by 15% the upper management of the University of Wisconsin system in
Madison. Cease all new construction for the University of Wisconsin,
including the $15 million golf course.

Free the Department of Transportation from the highway industry. Reform the
bidding system to allow out-of-state bids.

Release communities from unfunded mandates.

Review prisoners for early release and drug rehabilitation.

Reduce the state police force by 14%.

Operate and implement an intensive energy conservation program.

Have state employees contribute 5% for health care costs.

Bob Chernow, Trustee, River Hills