8/7/2019 Dean Zuleger Joint Committee on Finance testimony

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Statement of Dean A. Zuleger, Village Administrator Village of Weston, Wisconsin

Population -- 14,868

Co-Chairman Vos, Co-Chairman Darling, Members of the Joint Committeeon Finance, thank you for the opportunity to speak about the proposed2012-2013 biennial budget. My comments today will focus on using thisbudget as a springboard for much needed, fundamental recalibration of government at every level in the State of Wisconsin that goes much beyondthe proposed formulized across-the-board cut in shared revenue or aredistribution of local transportation aids.

Clearly with the State facing a projected 3 billion dollar structural deficit,certain action needed to be taken to put Wisconsin back on its fiscal feet.And while I may differ in some of the minor details used in this process toachieve a balanced budget – I applaud the Governor for his fortitude totake this issue head on as our economy begins to recover. I, havingworked as a staffer to this Committee and around state government for over 25 years, see no other way to address our financial woes than in thiscomprehensive manner.

But this budget will only serve as a band-aid if the legislature does not deal

with a complete overhaul of government in a manner that removesduplication of effort, layers of regulatory burden for both the taxpayer andour valued business community, and streamlines delivery of essentialservices. So I am not here to talk about saving the recycling program (youfolks are far too smart to squander a nationally-renown environmentallegacy - and I trust you will do the right thing), nor can I argue about the$169,000 of shared revenue the Village of Weston will lose per year in thenext budget – we all have to do our share.

I’m here to talk about doing some serious surgery in this budget thatreconstructs government at every level and reduces the tax burden on our citizenry – in business it is called lean – and in the government form itcomes in two parts.

First, I am asking this policy committee to mandate that by 2014 all levelsof government in the State of Wisconsin adopt lean principles of management that reduces 5% of their baseline 2012 operating budgets –

8/7/2019 Dean Zuleger Joint Committee on Finance testimony

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and I asking that you adopt statutory language that ties implementation of lean principles to the amount of shared revenue a community may receive.Lean principles would be defined as any total quality management processthat reduces waste and measures the reduction to the 5% level and resultsin a no increase or reduction in property taxes. Failure to meet this goalwould result in the governmental body losing 10% of its 2012-13 allocatedshared revenue. In addition, I would ask this Committee to include anamendment to this budget that creates a Lean Government Commission ,similar to what our friends in Iowa have successfully implemented, topromote and oversee the government efficiency effort.

Second, I am asking this policy committee to mandate that all local levelsof government be engaged in a consolidated or shared servicearrangement with an adjoining government by 2014. This budget alreadyeases the process for the merging of police and fire departments – it mustgo farther and use its muscle to break down the duplication of effort createdby politics and parochialism and force cooperation that will reduce theindividual taxpayer’s burden. Once again, I will suggest that failure to enter into such an agreement, will cost a community an additional 10% of its2012-13 allocated shared revenue. Right now, in the Wausau Metro areawe have almost $11 million dollars of additional, excess fire departmentequipment that will end up costing taxpayers over $13 million in debtservice, because of turf protection. That is one metro area and one

essential service –so it is safe to say that this action alone has a multi-

billion dollar saving’s potential .

We sit now as a house divided because of the critical nature of our statefinances. I truly believe, if adopted, the subtle beauty of both of thesecomponents of lean government is that it will cause a house divided to worktogether to find solutions on how to do things better. Band-aids can beripped off by recall elections or petty politics – but surgery is permanent. Iam asking the Joint Finance Committee to take a more long-term andmeaningful approach to the reconstruction of government in its entirety inWisconsin. I offer this proposal to you for your consideration.