Let’s build prosperity in our community

By Ted Chisholm

Ted Chisholm

When we elect leaders to represent us, we rightly ask them to explain how their policies will provide a tangible benefit to our community. As a candidate for Milwaukee County Treasurer in the August 13 Democratic primary, I am asked that question often. I am always happy to respond, because the County Treasurer’s Office can do so much more to support a thriving community for all.

First, the County Treasurer can stimulate economic growth that actually benefits our communities, not just wealthy developers in downtown Milwaukee. The Treasurer is responsible for enforcing property tax delinquencies in 18 of Milwaukee County’s 19 municipalities – the City of Milwaukee has its own elected Treasurer. That means in Glendale, Brown Deer, Wauwatosa, Shorewood, West Allis and communities across our county, the Treasurer can take action to seize vacant and abandoned industrial and commercial sites whose owners have not paid property taxes for years.

Too often, vacant and abandoned properties sit for years while Milwaukee County pays the taxes to the municipality. This is a problem for our entire community and the Treasurer’s Office must do more to acquire these properties, even if that means working with state and private sector partners to identify up front financing that the county’s economic development staff can use to prepare the properties for sale after acquisition.

By acquiring vacant properties more quickly, the Treasurer’s Office can help bring them back into use. Once a property is acquired by Milwaukee County through foreclosure by the Treasurer’s Office and the Office of the General Counsel, the property can be cleaned up, as is often required of old industrial sites, and sold by the County’s Department of Economic and Community Development. The sale of these properties will generate new revenue for Milwaukee County, which will allow for more investment in human services and infrastructure that benefit all Milwaukee County residents.

At the same time, in communities directly served by the treasurer’s enforcement function, there is a need for greater housing equity and the expansion of local ownership of businesses, including Black-owned businesses that are looking to expand. When we look at growing communities like Brown Deer, Glendale, Oak Creek and Franklin, we see a common pattern: the potential for business growth and investment in new markets.

At the same time, industrial and commercial prospects are not the only opportunities made available through the redevelopment of land acquired by the Treasurer’s Office. Milwaukee County needs more affordable housing, particularly in our suburban communities, that is truly accessible and welcoming to all members of our community. The Treasurer’s Office can help catalyze this critical form of development by working with municipal partners to acquire abandoned properties that can be redeveloped into new housing opportunities, such as single-family homes, multi-unit complexes, or mixed-use residential developments with ground-floor retail.

I hope this summary illustrates how a committed and effective treasurer’s office can better serve our community!