Here we go again.

Waiting to release bad fiscal news to the media until friday night is typical for Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker. It’s a sure fire way to make sure the fewest amount of people will actually hear about the problem.

Once again, Walker has had a budget fall apart on him. It’s nothing new. We forewarned you about past problems and there are several more to come before the year ends but it will be interesting to see if Walker can bury these built in deficits, fiscal time bombs and unmet infrastructure needs until after the November election when he’s running for Governor.

Now that there is officially a $2.3 million deficit in the Parks Department for 2005, the answer from the Walker administration is to cut more staff and to again delay the repair of failing infrastructure.

Hmmm… that sounds like a fiscally sound idea.

Who’s left to lay off? The remaining few plumbers who drain the pipes in the park buildings that are no longer heated? Maybe cut back on the grass cutting schedule again — because all that new grass cutting equipment isn’t being stressed out enough now that it’s cutting grass that is taller than the machines was made to routinely cut.

It’s just like listening to a broken record. Every year under Walker there have been problems with deficits but he knows they’re coming. The question is whether voters are smart enough to figure out this pattern before his next County Executive election in 2008.

The crazy thing is, the worst problems will become much more aparent in 2008 so Walker’s running for Governor now so he doesn’t have to clean up the mess he’s making in Milwaukee County.

Related Stories
Watchdog Milwaukee: Fired Department Heads Speak out about Walker’s Lack of Leadership:
Pool closings, failing infrastructure, endemic of exec’s priorities
JSOnline: Milwaukee parks face $2.3 million deficit

Unrelated chuckle: Brewtown Politico: Good Joke