Ten workers lose jobs but County taxpayers won’t save a dime
Milwaukee County Supervisor Chris Larson is questioning County Executive Scott Walker’s unilateral decision to lay off ten employees at General Mitchell International Airport. The issue received attention at the County Board’s Personnel Committee this afternoon.
“Federal Aviation Administration regulations forbid airports from using local tax dollars,” Supervisor Larson said. “In our case, the property tax levy cannot fund airport operations or capital improvements. Mitchell International is entirely funded by user fees.”
“It is simply preposterous to think that layoffs at the airport can be used to help balance the overall County budget. The County Executive could lay off every employee at the airport, and property tax payers wouldn’t save a dime. Mitchell International is on track to serve a record-breaking 8 million passengers this year, and these layoffs only put our airport at risk.”
“With business booming at the airport, why in the world are we cutting the staff that provides high-quality services to travelers, and then justifying it with tax savings that are forbidden and impossible?” Supervisor Larson asked. According to a news release issued by the County Executive yesterday, passenger counts at Mitchell International in January were up 43% from a year earlier due to increased competition and additional passengers from northern Illinois. The increase in usage comes despite a challenging economy and decreases in passengers experienced by airports nationwide.
“I challenge the administration to tell the taxpayers of Milwaukee County how much they’ll save by laying off these employees and explain why cutting service will help.”
