Editorial: Rare politician challenges multiple layers of government

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The Tomah Journal, Tomah, WI

Wisconsin has many layers of government.

State government. County government. City/village government. Township government. School district government. Technical college districts. Stadium districts. Lake districts.

It’s a subject virtually ignored by policymakers, but one prominent politician has finally stepped to the plate.

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, a Republican candidate for governor in 2010, has called for a substantial reduction in the scope of county government. He said it “largely overlaps municipal and state government. It can and should be consolidated into other areas.”

Walker wants cities and villages to assume maintenance of county roads and the state to take over public assistance programs, social services for seniors and the disabled and county courts.

While it’s easy to pick apart the details -- it make might more sense for counties to assume some duties rather than leave them to a patchwork of municipalities -- at least Walker is venturing where most politicians fear to tread.

There are numerous opportunities for consolidation that have been identified on this editorial page, and they are worth repeating:

*Can smaller, rural counties operate with one police department? Why should city of Tomah residents, for example, pay for two police departments when township residents only pay for one?

*Does Wisconsin need townships? Some states don’t have them. Could areas outside of cities and villages be just as easily managed by county governments?

*Can counties consolidate management of their public parks? For example, can Monroe and Vernon counties operate their county parks under one management unit?

*Does Wisconsin need both a technical college system and a series of two-year University of Wisconsin campuses? If technical colleges can offer liberal arts and an associate degree that transfers to a four-year institution, then what’s the difference between Western Technical College and UW-Richland Center?

Short of shifting public employees to a 401(k) plan, consolidation represents the best opportunity to cut spending without compromising government services. Scott Walker’s blueprint for consolidation may not be perfect, but at least it’s a blueprint.

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