Disappointed but not Surprised by Lynne DeBruin

Yesterday the Milwaukee County Board approved a 1% sales tax referendum on a 12-6 vote that would fund our declining parks and transit systems. While I am glad that the referendum passed, I am disappointed by the NO vote by my Supervisor Lynne DeBruin. I wonder how she will justify her vote now.

In the past she has offered an array of reasons for her no votes on similar referendums;

Voters still don't trust the County Board in the aftermath of the pension scandal. More public education on the sales tax idea is needed before it should be placed on the ballot, even as an advisory referendum, she said.

This last year

She suggested waiting on the idea until after the County Board adopts a 2008 budget, which is likely to include some painful cuts. Voters might be more receptive to a sales tax increase after seeing the tough choices county officials will be forced to make, she said.

While other major cities and metro areas have seen major increases in their ridership, we have seen a decline to a 33 year low. Despite the cutting and shortening of routes and the rise in bus fares to the highest in the nation, despite a strong support of a sales tax for transit by the business community, despite the property tax relief home owners will get and despite the obvious fast death spiral that Milwaukee county transit continues to be on, Supervisor DeBruin continues to show lack of leadership on one of the most critical issues facing Milwaukee County. Is Supervisor DeBruin going to wait for Scott Walkers unlikely plan to lease Mitchell? Or is she just going to wait until Milwaukee County transit just totally collapses?