The state report on which Barrett bases his argument leaves out large sums of state dollars that make their way to Milwaukee city and county residents.
“Any direct aid to a person is not included in the (DOR) report,” Langan said.
Consequently, Barrett’s and Hamilton’s figures failed to consider:
► More than $631 million in state Medicaid payments, not counting federal dollars, to county residents in 2013, the most recent figures available, the state Department of Health Services estimates.
► $108 million in 2015 state funding to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which primarily serves Milwaukee County and nearby residents, according to the university website.
► Nearly $90 million in state unemployment benefits paid by the state and Milwaukee employers, and not counting federal dollars. That’s almost $62 million to city residents and more than $28 million to other county residents, state Department of Workforce Development spokesman John Dipko said.
► $7.8 million in salaries in 2015 for 120 staffers in the Milwaukee County district attorney’s office, also state employees, according to state Department of Administration figures.
► More than $6 million to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court’s 47 judges, all state employees, each of whom is paid $131,187 a year.
► $4.3 million in state court support payments to Milwaukee County, including the clerk of circuit courts office, for fiscal 2017.
► $600,000 in salaries for the 12 people who staff the Milwaukee County public defender’s office, according to DOA.
That’s an additional $ 847.7 million that comes back to Milwaukee. Added to the DOR report, that’s nearly $2.3 billion, almost 92% of the $2.5 billion paid to the state by Milwaukee County. And that’s not counting the cost to state taxpayers of FoodShare Wisconsin and other social service programs, the state Department of Corrections, the state subsidy for Supplemental Security Income, historic tax credits and other assistance.
The complete story from Dan Benson here > Is Milwaukee a ‘donor’ city?