MMAC proposed and two legislators have drafted a bill to take control and ownership away from Milwaukee county of Mitchell International and give it to a regional board set up by the state. According to the article in the JS “Timmerman Airport, also owned by Milwaukee County and also located in Milwaukee, would be governed by the new airport authority, as well. But the authority would not take over other publicly owned small airports in the seven-county region, such as Waukesha County's Crites Field, West Bend Municipal Airport, and Kenosha Regional Airport.” The reason why “Stone said the authority would be mandatory for Mitchell because of its regional and statewide economic importance, and Timmerman would be included because it shares Mitchell's fee revenue. But other airports may get some property tax support and wouldn't fit as well into an authority without taxing power, he said.” (http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/dec05/381336.asp). The public statements by MMAC and the legislators involved in drafting the proposal claim it is for the greater good of the region. However, the real agendas I can see are to 1. Mess with Scott Walker in his bid to become Gov. and 2. Have another taxing agency. The legislators and MMAC claim now that this board will have no taxing authority, but that can change in a hurry when the taxers get control of the airports. They will use the same logic later to include the others and to make it a taxing authority. This will not happen immediately, I think it will happen within five maybe 7 years. As far as messing with Scott Walker, this move will make it appear that he cannot govern or control anything under his watch, and cannot be trusted to run the state or even the county if he loses his bid to become gov. If MMAC and others are truly concerned over the greater good of the region, do not go after what is successful go after what is not working.
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