Gov. Scott Walker Signs Bill Curbing Milwaukee County Board's Power

Updated 3:15 p.m. Friday

Gov. Scott Walker signed into law Friday legislation curbing the powers of the Milwaukee County Board, according to the Associated Press.

The bill — which  limits the powers of the board and boosts the county executive's, reduces the terms of county supervisors from four to two years and places a binding referendum on the ballot next year on whether to reduce supervisor salaries by about 50 percent to $24,000 — was given final approval in the state Legislature on May 14.

State Democrats say the bill strips local government of its local control, while state Republicans say the measure reins in an uncontrollable board unwilling to make necessary changes, the AP reports.  

"These long-awaited reforms will make Milwaukee County government more efficient and will save money for its hard-working taxpayers," Walker said in a statement Friday. "The people of Milwaukee County will finally have their voices heard through a vote in 2014."

County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic blasted the legislation as poorly written and said there will be many challenges implementing the legislation "as a result of the state micro-managing a local government with no local input."
"We all know what happened here," Dimitrijevic said in a statement. "This is an attack on the legislative branch of the most diverse county in the State of Wisconsin. The bill aims to destroy the legislative branch and attempts to reduce the power of the people. AB 85 consolidates power into one person’s hands, the County Executive. This consolidation of power is dangerous and undemocratic because it reduces the checks and balances in government."