Hours after the Milwaukee County Board overrode his veto of limitations on how the county would apply for federal economic stimulus dollars, County Executive Scott Walker released a list of $130 million in projects applied for or received by his department heads.
Walker said his initiatives were begun prior to the county board's resolution on stimulus funds and reflect those projects that meet his criteria to protect the county taxpayers:
- No matching funds required by Milwaukee County.
- No long-term federally mandated financial commitments required.
- Expenditure of requested funds will not obligate Milwaukee County to new operating or maintenance expenses.
The project Walker will allow to be applied for include: Child Support Enforcement ARRA Funds $1,050,732; DAS Build America Bonds TBD; Housing Neighborhood Stabilization Program $4,700,000; Housing CDBG Funds (additional) $465,341; Housing HUD - Homelessness prevention & rapid rehousing $712,755; Transit replacement of buses, fare boxes and voice annunciator system $25,675,100; Highways WisDOT Economic Recovery - Local Bridge and Road Program $97,010,000; and Public Museum Multiple $1,037,000.
Earlier today, the board voted, 16-2, to override Walker's veto of a county policy to apply for federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Walker, a Republican, is raising funds to challenge Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle in 2010.
"Scott Walker's anti-stimulus agenda took a serious hit today when the county board took the reins of leadership away from him and assumed control of the county's stimulus efforts," said Joe Wineke, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
Walker has already threatened to sue the county board if it uses federal money from the Recovery Act to create new jobs and projects for Milwaukee County's residents, Wineke said. Wineke also said Walker has banned county staff from working with the state Office of Recovery and Reinvestment on any efforts to create jobs to Milwaukee County through the act.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story may be updated as needed tonight.
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