![]() |
||||
|
...For a Better Dane County!
|
||||
| Brett's Blog | About Brett | On the issues | Contact Brett | Donate now |
|
Issues Summary Read the Wisconsin State Journal's summary of the District 4 matchup Budget Priorities In 2003, I joined the County Executive and the vast majority of the board to fund vital programs to make up for the $8 million in state and federal funding cuts, mostly to senior, family and child services. I made the motions to restore $100,000 for these programs in the budget on the Personnel and Finance Committee. I am working to reduce the impact of state cuts by making efficiency improvements like working with County Purchase of Service agencies to pool health care purchases to improve coverage and contain costs; cut county energy costs; refinance retirement to save more than $23 million in coming years to protect these vital programs and taxpayers. Regional Planning The Dane County Regional Planning Commission is slated to go out of business Oct. 1, 2004. I am a long time supporter of and have voted for regional government and will continue to do so. That is the best way to provide a forum for communities to work together, provide cost-effective services and water quality planning. The DNR has said they do not have the staff or money to do the quality planning needed to protect our rivers, lakes, and drinking water, which is very important to the constituents in my district. Should the RPC lapse without a replacement, the county should take over the water quality planning function. Jail Crowding We are making progress to reduce jail crowding thanks to the state taking 47 probation and parole holds prisoners, an effort that I led for the past five years on the board. This will not only reduce crowding, but save county property taxpayers more than $300,000 each year. I support building a new secure treatment facility for inmates with drug and alcohol abuse issues, at least 1/3 in jail have those problems, to relieve jail crowding and reduce repeat offenses. I also support Drug Court as a way to divert non-violent prisoners from our jail and get them the treatment they need. North Mendota Parkway and Development Traffic and clean water are important issues for my district, which is why I supported putting the planning in place north of the lake while improving the road system north of the lake. I supported getting the EPA grant to do the planning, supported $6 million for immediate safety improvements such as the light at Highway Q and K, and supported expanding existing roadways to relieve traffic and safety problems. The plan I co-sponsored recently passed the county board and I am happy we are moving forward to make the road safer and plan better development in this area. Vehicle Registration Fee After speaking with many of my constituents on this matter, I voted against increasing the vehicle registration fee last year. Many constituents felt this tax was too regressive and excessive. We must look elsewhere for revenues to meet our upcoming budget challenges. Vital Issues Ahead My citizen surveys show that safer streets, smarter growth, cleaner lakes, and holding the line on tax growth are top issues. Here is what I have done and what I plan to do in the future. Safer Streets
Next steps- Continue highway safety improvements, promote Smart Growth to direct growth downtown to reduce traffic through our neighborhoods. Promote Smarter Growth
Next steps- Move forward with the Smart Growth planning process, enact the Council of Government to promote regional cooperation. Protecting our Lakes
Next step- phase out phosphorous use to reduce algae in our lakes, and fully implement our storwater rules to reduce polluted runoff. |
Join Us to Re-elect Brett Hulsey on April 1st:
|
|
| ©2008 Brett Hulsey. Authorized and paid for by Friends of Brett Hulsey, Jen Braunginn, Treasurer. No tax money used; all labor donated. | ||