Vincent Discipline Made Public as a result of Student in Classroom NOT Mary Grogan

On September 24, 2024, Kevin Mathewson publisher of Kenosha County Eye published a story, indicating from an undated letter in Kathleen Vincent’s Personnel file, she was found to have committed serious misconduct, including “Theft of Time”. Essentially conducting Greendale School Board and Milwaukee County Board Business on the dime of the Kenosha Taxpayers and at the expense of the students in her class(es) "double dipping".

Vincent is a full-time English teacher for the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD), a part-time school board President for the Greendale School District, and a part-time County Supervisor for the Milwaukee County Board representing Greendale, Greenfield, and portions of Milwaukee.

In the posted comments at the end of the article, MLG, Mary L. Grogan, continues to appear in many postings taking the heat for leaking this story to Kenosha County Eye.  Franklin Community News reached out toKevin Mathewson the author of the article.

Mathewson indicates he has never talked to Grogan and has no idea who Grogran is.  Mathewson also indicates that the "source" for the story came from a child who is or was in Vincent's class at KUSD.  After requesting open records and soliciting additional information, Mathewson became aware of what Vincent was doing in the class by taking calls for unrelated school business and giving the students "busy work" so Vincent could attend Milwaukee County Board Zoom meetings.

Mary Grogan was a former Greendale School Board member who was not re-elected to the Greendale School Board in the April 2, 2024 election.  Greendale voters elected non-incumbents Brian Bock and Kristin Settle.

On September 25, Mark Belling, talk show host on WISN, picked up Mathewson's article and gave Vincent a 15-minute grilling.  Belling calls Vincent a “Triple Dipper”

On September 13, 2024, Franklin Community News reported Allegations Supervisors Taylor & Vincent defrauded Milwaukee County Taxpayers.  The article alleges that Taylor, with Vincent's knowledge and support, sent their shared legislative aide to multiple Milwaukee County Circuit Court Proceedings to take notes and return to them with the information.  These proceedings had nothing to do with Milwaukee County or Milwaukee County Board Business.  Both Taylor and Vincent have a personal interest in the proceedings.

Information received by multiple sources at the Milwaukee County Courthouse indicate that Vincent is running around from the Corporation Counsel's office to sending emails to all of the members of the County Board telling them it's all a lie, it's all a lie!  Call me (Vincent) if you have any questions.

How many lies can you tell before you forget what the last lie was that you told?

Nelson and Eichmann Decry FCN as "Fake News" - More Alleged Corruption by Eichmann and Taylor - NO Decorum

 

FAKE NEWS

At the Tuesday, September 17, 2024 meeting of the Franklin Common Council Mayor Nelson and Alderman Eichmann both declared that Franklin Community News (FCN) is...wait for it...wait for it...wait for it....FAKE NEWS.

It appears that FCN has "them" (Nelson, Eichmann, Taylor, and the rest of the Rat Pack) rattled.  It was the greatest gift of all!  "They" are afraid of the truth being told and how "they" are being accused of being corrupt. Alderwoman Eichmann even put out a veiled threat to FCN "They" were exploring "slander".  Alderwoman Eichmann, you are an "Elected Official" and as you said before "if you're not thick-skinned then get out of the kitchen!".

At the Common Council meeting, Alderwoman Eichmann went on to clarify that Franklin does not have a sanctioned newspaper that FCN is not sanctioned by Franklin, and that FCN is not a News Source.  So let's make this as simple as we can for Alderwoman Eichmann, we are a blog run by community citizens and supported by the Community of Franklin.  Our blogs contain news, editorials, and conjecture as most blogs do.  No, we are not supported by the City of Franklin if we were then the NEWS would be paid for and endorsed by you, Nelson, Zimmerman, Hersch, and Taylor and the residents of this City would not know the truth and corruption of this administration.  We are the UNOFFICIAL News Source of the City of Franklin.

Let's demonstrate the impact of Franklin Community News (FCN).  FCN has just about 1,500 subscribers to its Facebook Page, mainly citizens from Franklin.  FCN manages the South Suburban Community Group of over 4,500 citizens where over 1/3 of the members identify their hometown being Franklin.  Combined that is almost 3,000 Franklin residents and growing.  Our average blog attracts 700 individual readers on average and our highest-read blog was over 1,700 readers!  That blog was Franklin - Bought and Paid for by ROC Ventures, Steve Taylor, and Mike Zimmerman.

Now what "They" are really afraid of is the impact FCN has to get a message out, and that FCN provides information that most citizens would never be aware of.  What happens in the back room and the corruption of politics in Franklin?  Franklin residents are smart, but the residents do not get enough credit.  More and more Franklin residents are seeing the true backroom politics because we have pulled the curtain wide open!  

The biggest impact of all is election turnout!  Case in point, if you want to maintain control and keep a well-oiled corrupt Chicago-style political machine in place "They" hand pick their candidates and have them, run for office.  In the last Milwaukee County Supervisor election FCN made its case about why Supervisor Patti Logsdon should be re-elected to office in the April election, For the Greater Good (of Franklin, Hales Corners, and Milwaukee) - Editorial Part 1.  The turnout for the election was 9,157 total votes cast, 4576 for Logsdon and 4531 for Kenny.  Logsdon won by a margin of 45 votes.  That is the power of FCN that "They're" afraid of.

ALLEGED CORRUPTION - EICHMANN

One last bit of information for Alderperson Eichmann.  It's amazing the kind of information one obtains from watching a video.  Apparently, Eichmann and the publisher of this blog are "Friends" on Facebook and Eichmann was telling individuals I was in Italy.  Well, I was in Italy but you and I are certainly not friends nor are we or have we been "Facebook Friends" for at least a year.  Maybe the person who said it lied?

Also of more interest is how you and Supervisor Taylor joined the Waterford Can't Sensor Us Facebook Group in an apparent "sting" with Greendale resident Joe Russ to entrap someone.  According to the video you and Taylor took screenshots within minutes of an online exchange.  Allegedly, you both were "waiting in the wings" for the magic to happen.  There are screenshots of the membership of this public group.  You joined the group on April 9, 2024, and are still active.  It appears your two accomplices, Taylor and Russ, who we also have screenshots of, joined the group on April 9, 2024, the same day as the "sting" and left the group as of today 9-19-24.  There are screenshots of Taylor and Russ being in the Waterford Facebook group.  Instead of worrying about how to get FCN for slander, maybe you should worry about how to not become part of a lawsuit for conspiracy to entrap.  Is this what you do to eliminate Fake News?

Most interesting is that Eichmann, Taylor, and Russ all joined a "Waterford" Facebook group within three days of each other.  Why would you all join a Waterford group?  It must be because the politics are so interesting in Waterford this time of year or maybe because they may be terminating Mayor Nelson from their police force from his full-time job as Lieutenant that he has been suspended from since March?   Or maybe it's because FCN was posting blogs about our Mayor Nelson and the cover-up of open records and how he was doing the job of Franklin Mayor on Waterford time?  Or maybe it was just to plain old to entrap someone for reporting the Fake News?  Was this a Chicago-style hit for the Franklin Mayor? You can access the screenshots with the membership dates and profiles of the Waterford Can's Sensor Us Facebook Group's current and former members: John Nelson, Michelle Eichmann, Joe Russ, Steve Taylor, and the Waterford Police Department.

Ms. Eichmann have you ever noticed that in any of the posted pictures you are in, you are either with Nelson, Taylor, or Zimmerman.  None of your fellow colleagues from the Common Council are EVER around or near you in public.  Makes you wonder.  So before you make accusations of slander and Fake News, I would worry about your involvement of activity conducting a sting, or entrapment with Taylor and Russ.   

This City of Franklin residents is Franklin Chicago-style politics in action.  When you don't like the message and you can't control the message you personally go after the source and take them down. Here is a bit of news for the "Rat Pack".  We are not going anywhere.  We are here to stay and will keep on reporting on the corruption.  Soon there will be even more corruption to report on. What the Rat Pack did not expect is that retirement after a 33-year career provides you with much more time on your hands!

TAYLOR - ONGOING ETHICS ISSUES - TAYLOR NOT RELEVANT

Supervisor Taylor, who has become irrelevant in Franklin and almost nonexistent in Oak Creek, should not be acknowledged by the City of Franklin Administration, Mayor, or Common Council for anything having to do with Rock Ventures.   Taylor was in the presentation,  unsuccessfully making the case about the 55-decibel sound level as he was at the Common Council meeting.  Mr. Taylor is the executive director of a non-profit 501c3, the Rock Foundation which has had a net operating loss of $-20,000 in each of the last two years as reported in the IRS filings.  

As reported by FCN and reported as part of an ethics complaint, The Foundation is used to supplant Taylor's salary so Taylor acts as Government Relations/operations for the Rock. In layman's terms, he is a lobbyist and he was acting as a lobbyist at the Common Council meeting which is a direct conflict of interest with his elected position as County Supervisor. One of many alleged allegations in a 2024 January ethics complaint submitted against Taylor to the Milwaukee County Ethics Board that is under investigation. As Mr. Taylor has said numerous times on Facebook, "I work directly for a board of directors, not the Rock".  What does the sound level have to do with raising funds for the foundation?  Good thing Van McNeil was there to provide some expertise and clarity on the sound issues.

If you watch the video of last the Common Council meeting toward the beginning you will see Franklin's finest approach Taylor in the back of the room and appear to ask him to not be so loud.  Does Taylor exhibit the same decorum when attending Milwaukee County Board Meetings?

NELSON and HERSCH HAVE NO DECORUM

The decorum presented by the Mayor, Eichmann, the City Administrator, and the new Director of IT was THE WORST decorum ever witnessed at a public meeting.  It appeared attendees were watching the ABC Presidential Debate.  During an IT presentation on "IT Security" the new IT Director, the "IT Guy", was apparently directed to "Fact Check" who said what, and directly addressed social media posts.  The "Fact Check" had to do with a social media post that was made by Franklin Alderwoman Courtney Day below:

 

There is nothing wrong with Alderwoman Day alerting her constituents.  Day insists she was never notified about the change from the City Administration.  Day also happened to be out of the county but still wanted to communicate with her constituents.  Rather than having a one-on-one with Day like any LEADER would do to understand where the communication breakdown was, if any, it was used as a public attack by Nelson and Eichmann.  Why Eichmann puts in her two cents on social media and tries to stir the pot when she knew very well Day was out of town is beyond anyone's guess.  Eichmann was not trying to help Day but was intentionally trying to make Day look bad in public.  

If you watch the video you can clearly see the new "IT Guy" going through a multitude of PowerPoint Slides, "PowerPoint by Death", to publicly make the case for Nelson and Hersch.  

IT Guy, a word of advice, if you plan on being in the Public service sector as an Administrator for a long time, it's never cool to throw your colleagues or Elected Officials under the bus in a public meeting.  If you start off by being a lackey to the current administration, you will have a short career.  Don't do the dirty work for the Nelson Administration let them do it themselves.  They did not have the guts to do it, so they got you.  Not a good way to make your first public appearance "IT Guy".

Alderwomen Day should be commended for how she sat back cooly, calmly and took what was an obvious public beating by the "IT Guy" on behalf of Nelson, Eichmann, and Hersh. Not sure how low class you can get in the Franklin City Administration.  Thank you Alderwoman Day for all you do for your constituents, even when you are on vacation and have no access to the internet! 

We at FCN are here for THE GREATER GOOD.

FRANKLIN COMMON COUNCIL CANNOT MAKE A DECISION - WILL SOUND INCREASE FROM 55db at ROC

Residents of Franklin and Greendale Concerned With Sound at Ballpark Commons attend the upcoming CITY OF FRANKLIN COMMON COUNCIL MEETING at FRANKLIN CITY HALL - COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 9229 WEST LOOMIS ROAD - FRANKLIN, WISCONSIN AGEND - TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 AT 6:30 P.M. 

When is a decision final that is made by the Mayor of Franklin and the Franklin Common Council when it concerns the ROC?  Sadly, the answer is there is never a final decision when it comes to the ROC.  They have special privileges from the City of Franklin, unlike any other person or business.

At the upcoming Common Council meeting on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, it appears that the ROC and its supporters on the Franklin Common Council are trying to undo the new ordinance that recently passed restrictions in their Extraordinary Special Event Permits that no sound beyond the ROC property line is greater than 55 decibels.

That's right, just when you thought it was over, and the ROC was going to follow the new ordinance, they are now again fighting it.

There are two items on Tuesday's Common Council agenda pertaining to the sound at the ROC.

Item #G3 - Entertainment and Special Event-Hills Have Eyes and  Item #G4 - Entertainment and Special Event-The Rock Summer Concert Series.

The unanswered question is WHO had the items placed on the agenda and WHY are they on the agenda?

There are two possibilities for the WHO put the items on the agenda.  The Mayor can place an item at any time on the agenda OR two alderpersons can force an item on the agenda.

The WHY is pretty straightforward.  Mike Zimmerman, Owner and CEO of ROC Ventures, and Steve Taylor, ROC Foundation Executive Director, County Supervisor, and undeclared Government Relations and Operations Director for the ROC do not like it when they cannot have their way and do whatever they want to.  Additionally, they want to set a president for next year.  Everyone is happy with 55 decibels.  Except for Mike Zimmerman.

Item #G4 - Entertainment and Special Event-The Rock Summer Concert Series.

The request for council action request to the Common Council indicates:

The Hills has Eyes was approved at the Common Council meeting of May 21, 2024 at a decibel level of 55. This is being brought back to review the decibel level limit for this special event.

The Hills has Eyes notes:
Hills Has Eyes has been in production for over 10 years.

In 2023 there were 23 complaints. Out of the 23 complaints, 13 were regarding sound at the Hills Has Eyes directly, which consisted of 6 households making those complaints.

The decibel level last year which was used by the planning department was the standard 79 dBA for daytime (before 10:00 p.m.) and 74 dBA for nighttime (after 10:00 p.m.).

Planning department received one sound monitor violation related to hours of operation. Also, the planning department while reviewing a complaint received on September 29, 2023, they noticed that the train horn was audible with a sound level 68 dBA, no violation found with the standard of 74 dBA (nighttime). 

The motion requested by the Common Council is open-ended

Motion to approve an established sound decibel level limit of _________for the Hils Has Eyes Special Event. 

The Extraordinary Event license that was approved by the City of Franklin on June 3, 2024, specifically indicates:

PENDING SOUND CHECK APPROVAL PRIOR TO EVENT. ALL DATES SUBJECT TO 55 DECIBEL LEVEL AT PROPERTY LINE FOR :

THE HILL HAS EYES HAUNTED ATTRACTION - FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS, 9/27/24 ­ 10/26/2024 BEGINNING AT 6:00PM. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: BOX OFFICE TICKET SALES TO END AT 11:00PM AND MUSIC TO END AT 12:00AM. LAST GROUP TO ENTER AT 11:50 PM. NO TRAIN HORN.

FAMILY ORIENTED "NOT SO SCARY" EVENTS - SUNDAYS 9/29/24 - 10/27/24 2:30PM­ 4:45PM. 

Item #G4 - Entertainment and Special Event-The Rock Summer Concert Series.

The summer concert series which was approved at the Special Common Council meeting of May 30, 2024 at a decibel level of 55 is being brought back to review the decibel level for the remaining two summer concerts. 

The Extraordinary Event license that was approved by the City of Franklin on May 31 2024, specifically indicates:

SUMMER CONCERTS 2024: SATURDAYS IN JUNE, JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER FROM 6:30 PM - 10:30 PM & JULY 4, SEPTEMBER 2 FROM 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM. ALL CONCERTS SUBJECT TO 55 DECIBEL LEVEL AT PROPERTY LINE; AND TO BE REVIEWED AND POSSIBLE ACTION TAKEN BY COMMON COUNCIL AT THE JUNE 18, 2024 COUNCIL MEETING. 

Franklin  Community News also reported On Thursday, August 22, Mike Zimmerman CEO of Rock Ventures posted a copy of a Notice of Citation issued by the Frankin Police Department on an exchange in a post on the Franklin Area Community Facebook Page.  The citation was issued for "A violation of the noise provision of an extraordinary event permit".  The Citation requires a Rock representative to appear in Franklin Municipal Court on September 25, 2024, at 8:30am.

The citation was issued for a noise violation on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 7:48pm.  According to the Visit Ballpark Commons webpage calendar of events, there were two events on this day.  The Milwaukee Milkmen vs. Kane County Cougars at 6pm and Generation Z performing at the Umbrella bar at 6:30pm.

On February 17, 2024, Franklin Community News published an article titled "Konstanktakis Supported by Steve Taylor for Franklin Municipal Judge". As FCN has reported Milwaukee County Supervisor Steve Taylor is also the Executive Director of the ROC Foundation, a Foundation based upon reported reviews of ROC Foundation tax returns, that makes no money and donates no money.  Taylor and Franklin Mayor John Nelson both supported Konstanktakis's run for Municipal Judge.

The ROC pushed the envelope with sound at the Red White and Brews event
clipping at 92 decibels.  At the Tuesday, September 3rd Franklin Common Council meeting, in the first 20 minutes during public comment, about 10 residents spoke about the sound from the latest event on Saturday, September 1, 2024.  The event was titled "Red, White, and Brews Festival".  Many residents had printouts from the sound monitoring unit that indicated the sound was between 65 and clipped as high as 92 decibels.  A copy of the permit provided by a citizen indicated the sound was approved at 55 decibels.  The citizens commented when the Rock was contacted about the sound, that their response was "We are not abiding by that".  The 55 decibels were also confirmed by Mayor Nelson.

Once again it appears that the laws and ordinances in the City of Franklin are for you and me, but not the Rock.  No this is not "Let's Hate the Rock".  This is, for all that is good Rock, can't you just follow the laws and ordinances like everyone else?  Why do you deserve a special pass, unlike any other resident or corporation that blatantly breaks the law?

Rock supporters are concerned that Mr. Zimmerman will receive another citation for breaking the sound limit in the ordinance and as approved on his license. In a post made on the Franklin Area Community Page on September 3, 2024, Chrisn Cindy Dawes invoked that because this was a fund-raiser for the veterans and for the Fischer House, Mr. Zimmerman should not be fined.  Well done Chrisn Cindy Dawes, well done.  The only thing you did not do was talk about the American flag and apple pie!  

This is NOT about the Veterans or the Fisher House.  Most anyone supports veterans for putting their lives on the line every day to provide this county our freedoms and the Fischer House is an exemplary organization providing housing for veterans.  How dare you use veterans and the Fischer House as a reason to justify Zimmermann's lack of respect to follow the laws and ordinances of the city of Franklin.  Most veterans have respect for authority and the law, unlike Zimerman.  It's also amazing that the ROC Foundation led by County Supervisor Taylor was not part of the fundraising effort.  Oh never mind....the ROC Foundation would need to do something charitable other than pay the salary of County Supervisor Taylor.

The moment of truth will be on September 25, 2024, if now Judge Konstanktakis will uphold the rule of law and hold the Rock (Mike Zimmerman) finally accountable or if she will let the violation slide as part of the Franklin political payback and corruption to Taylor and Nelson for working to have her elected. Also remember that Taylor, Zimmerman, and Kelly Hersh, the Franklin Director of Administration were on the campaign team to have Nelson elected Mayor.  Political Payback?  Pay for Play?

Residents of Franklin and Greendale Concerned With Sound at Ballpark Commons attend the upcoming CITY OF FRANKLIN COMMON COUNCIL MEETING at FRANKLIN CITY HALL - COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 9229 WEST LOOMIS ROAD - FRANKLIN, WISCONSIN AGEND - TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 AT 6:30 P.M. 

The City of Franklin is bought and paid for on behalf of John Nelson by ROC Ventures, ROC Foundation, Mike Zimmerman and Steve Taylor.

Allegations Supervisors Taylor & Vincent Defraud Milwaukee County Taxpayers

In this edition:

• Allegations Supervisors Taylor & Vincent Defraud Milwaukee County Taxpayers
• County Supervisor Taylor provides no solutions to solving the Milwaukee County Budget Crisis
• Taylor runs an annual -$20,000 deficit as Executive Director of the ROC Foundation but claims to be able to solve a $1.47 Billion Milwaukee County Budget

Allegations Supervisors Taylor & Vincent Defraud Milwaukee County Taxpayers

In addition to an already active Ethics Complaint that was filed with the Milwaukee County Ethics Board in January of 2024 against Supervisors Steve Taylor and Kathleen Vincent alleging multiple violations of the Milwaukee County Ethics Code, they can now add another to the list.

A formal ethics complaint was filed against County Supervisors Steve Taylor and Kathleen Vincent for fraud and misuse of Milwaukee County resources. The same complaint was filed with the Milwaukee County Fraud Waste and Abuse.

The formal complaint alleges that County Supervisor Taylor 

(Franklin, Oak Creek)

also Executive Director of the ROC Foundation with the knowledge and support of Supervisor Kathleen Vincent (Greendale, Greenfield, Milwaukee), also President of the Greendale School Board, sent their shared Legislative Aide to at least 5 Milwaukee County Circuit Court proceedings to take notes and provide information back to Taylor and Vincent.

We are not mentioning the Legislative Aides' name as we believe the Aide is innocent as the Aide was following directives from Taylor and Vincent.

The public proceedings of two different individuals are both of interest personally to Taylor and Vincent. These proceedings have nothing to do with Milwaukee County or Milwaukee County Business but are two cases of personal inherent interest to Taylor and Vincent.

Milwaukee County taxpayers should have a deep concern that citizens' tax dollars are being used inappropriately at the same time County Supervisor Taylor is seeking headlines to portray him as being a county budget hawk and proclaiming that "the sky is falling". At the very same time, Taylor and Vincent are inappropriately using County Staff for their personal business.

Milwaukee County Ethics Code 9.05(2) (a) and (e) states:

(a).  No financial gain or anything of substantial value: Except as otherwise provided or approved by the county board, no county public official or employee shall use his/her public position or office to obtain financial gain or anything of substantial value for the private benefit of himself/herself or his/her immediate family, or for an organization with which he/she is associated. This paragraph does not prohibit a county elected official from using the title or prestige of his/her office to obtain campaign contributions that are permitted by and reported as required by ch. 11, Wis. Stats.

"Anything of value" means any money or property, favor, service, payment, advance, forbearance, loan, or promise of future employment, business, or other consideration having a value greater than fifty dollars ($50.00), but does not include compensation and expenses paid by the county, fees and expenses which are permitted and reported under section 9.14 of the Code, political contributions which are reported under ch. 11, Wis. Stats., or hospitality extended for a purpose unrelated to county business by a person other than an organization.

(e).  No use of public position to influence or gain unlawful benefits, advantages or privileges: No county public official or employee shall use or attempt to use his/her public position to influence or gain unlawful benefits, advantages, or privileges for himself/herself or others.

The legislative aide's salary was identified in a query on opensalary.com.  It indicates the legislative aide is a full-time salaried employee with an hourly rate of $20.26. A conservative estimate of fringe benefits for a public employee in WI is 40% of the salary, bringing the aide's hourly with fringe to $28.36.  The dates the aide attended one set of public proceedings as requested by Mr. Taylor and Ms. Vincent was aware of were June 10, July 7, and August 6, 2024.  These hearings were on a matter unrelated to Milwaukee County business but of personal interest to Supervisors Taylor and Vincent.

The legislative aide was also requested to attend another set of public proceedings on June 10 and July 25 by Taylor.  These hearings were also on two separate matters unrelated to Milwaukee County business but of personal interest to Supervisor Taylor.

This brings the legislative aide's appearance at Milwaukee County Circuit Court proceedings to a total of 5 appearances to take notes and return back to Mr. Taylor and  Ms. Vincent with the information. Taylor and Vincent defrauded Milwaukee County taxpayers' estimated cost of instructing a county employee to use their position for Taylor and Vincent's personal gain is $141.80 (Estimated 5 hours - 1 hour for each hearing attended).  Above the $50 threshold for the case of financial gain according to the Milwaukee County Code of Ethics.

Shortly after this alleged misuse of county resources on August 16, George Christenson, Milwaukee County Clerk sent a multi-page memo to Milwaukee County Supervisors on the Scope of Services of Legislative Aides.  Christenson who oversees all of the Legislative Aides indicates in the memo "Legislative Aides do not accommodate requests to the personal affairs of County Supervisors"

At a 2024 "campaign" fundraiser for County Supervisor Steve Taylor

City of Franklin Common Council President Michelle Eichmann, John Nelson (Mayor, City of Franklin), Steve Taylor, Jim Luckey, George Christiansen (County Clerk), Georgia Konstantakis (Franklin Municipal Judge), Marcellia Nicholson (County Board Chair), and Liz Sumner (Milwaukee County Comptroller).

County Supervisor Taylor provides no solutions to solving the Milwaukee County Budget Crisis

After months of County Supervisor Steve Taylor proclaiming “the sky is falling” and that there is a looming 19 Million Dollar Milwaukee County Budget Deficit, providing no creative ideas to solve said budget, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel yesterday (9/12/24) reported that County Executive Crowley and the Office of Strategy, Budget, and Performance solved the problem!  Thank you County Executive Crowley and staff!

According to the Journal Sentinel "the county's Office of Strategy, Budget and Performance and County Executive David Crowley worked with departments to identify funding sources and departmental surpluses to reallocate funds. The county would also use federal American Rescue Plan Act pandemic relief dollars and, if necessary, debt service reserves to plug the gap."

The Journal Sentinel quoted Crowley as saying “I remain committed to deploying fiscally responsible solutions to balance our budget and work toward our shared vision,” County Executive David Crowley said in a statement. “But we have more work to do to prevent future fiscal cliffs, increase recruitment and retention to avoid overtime costs, and obtain additional financial support for required state-mandated services.”

The Journal Sentinel also indicated, "The county's finance committee voted Thursday to recommend Crowley’s proposal to close the 2024 budget deficit without any extra cost to taxpayers and little impact on county-run services. The projected deficits had come despite approval from state lawmakers last year to more than double the county's sales tax rate to 0.9% and increased shared revenue back to the county from state coffers."

County Supervisor Steve Taylor is the Vice-Chair of the Milwaukee County Committee on Finance.  This is the same County Supervisor Steve Taylor who appears to be running the local media circuit spreading that there is a looming budget crisis, "the sky is falling", and providing no substantive solutions to the solve the county budget crisis.

Taylor makes his ego-centric posts on his County Supervisor's Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/supervisorsteveftaylor in posts with no likes and that the same two people (out of his district) respond.

Steve Taylors Media Tour on the now solved County Budget Crisis.

July 30, 2024 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"It's not good. It's not good at all," Supervisor Steve Taylor told the county's finance committee on Thursday, later adding, "We're going to have a tough budget."

August 6, 2024 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"I didn't hear solutions. That's what pisses me off," he said. "I heard the problems. I heard the causes. I didn't hear any creativity." - No Solutions Provided by Supervisor Taylor.

August 15, 2024 -WUWM

"Today on Lake Effect, we dive into the Milwaukee County budget and explore why there’s a multi-million-dollar deficit" - No solutions were provided by Supervisor Taylor.

August 20, 2024 - Here and Now PBS Wisconsin

"Milwaukee County Supervisor Steve Taylor discusses a budget surplus swinging to projected deficits for the county's government despite federal funding, a boost in state aid, and a sales tax increase." - No Solutions were provided by Supervisor Taylor.

September 5, 2024 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Regarding a 4th Dome - County Board Supervisor Steve Taylor, who has warned his colleagues of looming fiscal challenges, noted the plan's hefty price tag but said the idea has merit.

September 8, 2024 - Urban Milwaukee

Regarding the Charles Allis Mansion - Taylor said the CAVT representatives were being “short sighted” for not considering selling the mansion to pay for a new home for the art collection. The funding they are asking for could other go toward “parks and playgrounds and pools and everything else that’s a higher priority for this body,” Taylor said. “That’s what you’re up against.”

Supervisor Taylor, enough grandstanding. Let the adults in the room solve the issues that have the knowledge and ability to make the tough, educated, and well-informed decisions. Maybe you should try to turn a profit and not run an annual structural deficit at the $150,000 not-for-profit ROC Foundation in which you are the executive director. Please, Supervisor Taylor, consider the "Greater Good".

Taylor runs an annual -$20,000 deficit as Executive Director of the ROC Foundation but claims to be able to solve a $1.47 Billion Milwaukee County Budget

According to ROC Foundation Tax Returns 990EZ filed with the IRS, the Golf Tournament has been the largest revenue source for the ROC Foundation with the lowest return.  The 2023 tax returns for the ROC Foundation have yet to be filed.  Steve Taylor, ROC Executive Director and only employee of the ROC Foundation, according to tax returns, lost -$1.00 on the 2022 golf outing.

Golf Outing	2020	2021	2022
Gross	$33,028.00	$33,529.00	$45,376.00
Expenses	$25,147.00	$30,472.00	$37,233.00
Other Expenses - Rent Facility Costs			$8,144.00
Net Profit	$7,881.00	$3,057.00	-$1.00

Total gross fundraising revenue for the ROC Foundation continues to increase year over year at the same time fundraising expenses continue to increase.  In 2022 Steve Taylor lost -$4,007 in fundraising.

All Gross Receipts – Fundraising Events	$58,660.00	$80,731.00	$114,650.00
All Expenses – Fundraising Events	$44,371.00	$65,874.00	$118,657.00
Total Net Revenue – All Fundraising Events	$14,289.00	$14,857.00	-$4,007.00

Total revenues for 2022 were at an all-time high but when compared with the expenses and losses on fundraising, they do not paint a good picture of the fiscal management of this foundation by Taylor.

Contributions, gifts, grants	$71,932.00	$129,333.00	$146,659.00
Net Income from Gaming and Fundraising Events	$1,350.00	$8,496.00	-$353.00
Other Revenue	$21.00	$854.00	$427.00
Total Revenue	$73,303.00	$138,683.00	$146,733.00

The reported expenses paint another picture and raise a few questions.  The ROC Foundation according to the IRS filings really does not award "grants".  It allows nonprofit organizations the privilege to sell 50/50 raffle tickets and admission tickets and keep a share of the "profits" for their "work".  

Steve Taylor earned $75,000 in 2022.  According to two Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel articles, Milwaukee County Supervisor Steve Taylor failed to disclose his relationship with the rock and two weeks later filed to report his employment as Executive Director of the ROC Foundation on his ethics disclosure statement as required by the Milwaukee County Ethics Board.  

Taylor had $32,786 charged to professional fees and independent contractors.  What is it that a foundation that makes no money and gives no money could possibly be spending $32,786 in 2022 and $40,022 in 2021 on consultants and independent contractors?  Who or what company was Taylor consulting with? What reason could there possibly be for a small nonprofit to spend 25% of its revenue on consulting on top of the 50% revenue of the salary paid by the Foundation to Taylor?  Why was the ROC Foundation not charged rent in 2022 but was charged rent in 2020 and 2021?

Grants Paid	$2,835.00	$33,537.00	$38,006.00
Salaries and benefits	$62,232.00	$74,648.00	$75,047.00
Professional fees and independent contractors	$14,665.00	$40,022.00	$32,786.00
Occupancy, Rent, Maintenance	$7,800.00	$7,984.00	$0.00
Printing/Postage	$363.00		$136.00
Other Expenses	$4,034.00	$1,952.00	$2,283.00
Total Expenses	$91,929.00	$158,143.00	$148,258.00

The net assets reported on the filings indicate a loss for the last three reporting years with a negative fund balance across all three years and a total deficit for the three years of -$39,611.

The deficit for the year	-$18,626.00	-$19,460.00	-$1,525.00
Fund Balance at the Beginning of the Year	$14,947.00	-$3,679.00	-$23,139.00
Fund balance at end of year	-$3,679.00	-$23,139.00	-$24,664.00

Due to the many questions arising from the review of the ROC Foundation tax filings, publicly accessible on the IRS web page, Franklin Community News filed a formal complaint with the IRS in January of 2023 providing evidence and alleging that Milwaukee County Supervisor/ROC Executive Director and Mike Zimmerman ROC Ventures CEO:

• Directors/Officers/Persons are using income/assets for personal gain
• The organization is engaged in commercial, for-profit business activities
• The organization is involved in a political campaign
• The organization is engaged in excessive lobbying activity

Franklin Community News has provided evidence of open records, to the IRS of how Taylor and or Zimmerman were involved and participating in the above allegations.

County Supervisor Taylor has made the news lately with a now self-proclaimed title of Milwaukee County Budget Hawk "The sky is Falling".

Based on the IRS filings Taylor cannot operate as Executive Director a not-for-profit that grosses no more than $150,000 without losing money the last two years on the major golf fundraiser in addition to running huge end-of-year structural deficits of over -$18,000 the last two of three filing years.

Maybe Taylor should take some of his own advice “It’s not good. "It’s not good at all. We’re going to have a tough budget,” he (Taylor) said."  If Taylor cannot run a simple nonprofit organization in the black, turn a profit, and benefit the community, one would question what knowledge, expertise, experience, input, or advice he can provide to solve the multimillion-dollar county budget problems.  Milwaukee County Supervisor Steve Taylor serves as co-chair of the  Milwaukee County Committee on Finance.

What is it County Supervisor Taylor does to earn over $75,00 in salary and fringe for a not-for-profit organization that has run a -$20,000 structural deficit two years in a row?  In the real world, he would have been fired.  However, since it is all smoke and mirrors for allegedly being a paid employee for Mike Zimmerman CEO of ROC Ventures assisting in operations and Governmental relations, it's ok.

Please try to keep Mr. Taylor busy at the ROC Foundation so the adults in the room can focus on solving the financial issues of the County and providing continued services to the residents of Milwaukee County.

If you are craving a bit more, take a look at the phony golf tournament Mr. Taylor ran for the ROC Foundation.  The ROC Foundation Golf Tournamant of 2024.

In case you are wondering according to the ROC Foundation Website, ROC stands for "Return on Community". The City of Franklin is bought and paid for by Mike Zimmerman, Steve Taylor, and Mayor John Nelson.

FCNewsWI@gmail.com