(The Center Square) – The complaints about Wisconsin’s new state budget continue to roll in, and Milwaukee Alderman Peter Burgelis is the latest.
He told a Common Council committee the new $111 billion, two-year state budget doesn’t do enough for Milwaukee.
“Our local streets are aging faster than we can afford to repair them, and the state continues to shortchange its largest city and economic engine,” Burgelis said.
Burgelis added that 25% of Milwaukee’s roads are in poor shape, but the city is getting just 5% of the state’s general transportation money. He said Milwaukee should get at least double that.
“Ten percent of sales tax comes from Milwaukee, but we are getting half of that back for general transportation aid and state aid to municipalities to improve their local roads,” he said.
Burgelis pointed to a recent city report that puts the local road price tag at more than $750 million.
“To simply maintain existing pavement conditions, DPW estimates that $60 million annually is required. To eliminate the current backlog of poor-quality streets, the city would need a staggering $821 million, with more than $750 million needed for local and collector streets. These are the very roads most used by residents but ineligible for federal aid,” Burgelis’ statement added.
“Milwaukee’s local road network is a backbone of economic activity and daily life,” Burgelis said. “We’re left with limited funding tools and outdated state formulas that reward suburban expansion and penalize urban density.”
Burgelis said he wants to make the case to lawmakers to restructure how the state helps Milwaukee, and other local communities, pay for their roads.
“It’s time for a serious conversation in Madison about how we fund local infrastructure in a way that meets real quality of life needs,” Burgelis said. “Milwaukee cannot keep doing more with less while driving on cracked pavement.”
