Nelson’s “22%” Moment: How Logsdon's County Budget Townhall Highlights Two Very Different Approaches to Leadership

By Dr. Richard Busalacchi — Franklin Community News, October 15, 2025

At a Franklin Library town hall, Mayor John Nelson’s challenge to Supervisor Patti Logsdon reignited a long-running divide between county collaboration and political theater.

⚡ Fast Facts: 

• 🏛 The Setting: Supervisor Patti Logsdon’s Franklin Library town hall on the 2026 Milwaukee County budget featured two presenters from the County Budget Office explaining where county funds go and what services Franklin residents receive.

• 🚪 The Confrontation: Franklin Mayor John Nelson arrived late — about three-quarters through the meeting — followed by Alderwoman Michelle Eichmann. Witnesses say Nelson interrupted the discussion “with barrels loaded,” demanding, “How much of Franklin’s tax base goes to Milwaukee County?”

• 💬 The Exchange: Former Mayor Tom Taylor shouted “22%!” from the audience. Nelson then asked what Franklin “gets back” for that 22% and what Logsdon had done with it. Logsdon replied, “John, I know what you’re doing — this is a campaign stunt for Khan,” referring to School Board Member Maqsood Khan, Nelson and Taylor’s rumored recruit for County Supervisor.

• 🧭 District Split:

  • Patti Logsdon (District 9): Franklin west of 51st Street, Hales Corners & part of Greenfield.

  • Steve F. Taylor (District 17): Franklin east of 51st Street, plus Oak Creek & South Milwaukee.

• 🏗 Franklin Projects:

  • West Franklin (Logsdon): Whitnall Park & Boerner Gardens upgrades, 76th Street roadwork, library and aging services.

  • East Franklin (Taylor): A $2.5 million Communities of Crocus Inc. housing development for adults with disabilities at 7521 S. 31st Street, funded by Milwaukee County ARPA.

• 🌳 Countywide Services Funded by the 22%:
  Milwaukee County Parks, the Milwaukee County Zoo, Sheriff’s Office, Behavioral Health & Addiction Services, Aging & Disability programs, public health clinics, county transit, court systems, and the Federated Library System (MCFLS).

• 💼 Leadership Contrast:

  • Logsdon: Hosts town halls, pushes transparency, and protects public parkland.

  • Taylor: Has not held a budget town hall in recent cycles; focuses on South Suburban Chamber of Commerce events and ribbon cuttings.

• 🔄 Political Triangle:
  Nelson, Taylor, and Maqsood Khan are aligning on fiscal talking points ahead of 2026 County Board elections — a message Logsdon and supporters call “rehearsed and self-serving.”

🏛️ Budget Talk Turns Political at Franklin Library

Supervisor Patti Logsdon’s Franklin Library town hall, with approximately 30 individuals in attendance, began as a structured, informative public meeting. Two representatives from Milwaukee County’s Budget Office presented an overview of the 2026 recommended budget—covering allocations for public safety, infrastructure, and countywide services—and took questions from attendees.

Roughly three-quarters through the event, Franklin Mayor John Nelson arrived, followed minutes later by his ally, Alderwoman Michelle Eichmann. According to witnesses, Nelson came in “with barrels loaded.” He stood and interrupted the discussion, demanding of Logsdon, “How much of Franklin’s tax base goes to support Milwaukee County?”

Before Logsdon could respond, former Mayor Tom Taylor shouted from the audience, “Twenty-two percent!”

Nelson pressed further: “What do we get for that 22 percent? What have you done for us?”

Maintaining composure, Logsdon replied, “John, I know what you’re doing—this is a campaign stunt .” Her remark made clear that she believed Nelson’s confrontation was staged to boost School Board Member Maqsood Khan, whom Nelson and Taylor have been encouraging to run for the County Board.

Several residents noted afterward that had Nelson arrived on time, he would have heard the full presentation—including the exact breakdown of Franklin’s county contribution and how that revenue supports both local and regional services.

“It was all covered at the start,” one attendee said. “If he’d listened, he’d know what that 22 percent pays for.”

🤝 Logsdon’s Record of Local Engagement

Supervisor Patti Logsdon, representing Franklin west of 51st Street along with Hales Corners and part of Greenfield, has built her reputation on accessibility, transparency, and follow-through. Her record blends neighborhood-level projects with county-wide reforms.

Above: Supervisor Patti Logsdon’s 2025 Milwaukee County Budget Town Hall schedule — three local meetings plus the County Board’s annual public hearing. Logsdon is one of the few supervisors who regularly holds open budget sessions for residents.

• 🏊 Hales Corners Pool Reopening (2026 Target): Led community meetings and partnered with County Parks and nonprofits to fund the reopening.

• 🌷 Boerner Botanical Gardens Security Fence: Championed funding for fence design and safety upgrades.

• 🦁 Hales Corners Lions Pavilion Partnership: Helped create a community-led pavilion management agreement.

• 📊 Data Governance & Transparency Legislation: Co-sponsored countywide data access and accountability reforms.

• 🚓 Public Safety Staffing: Backed budget amendments to increase pay and training for Sheriff’s deputies and correctional staff.

• 💬 Town Halls & Newsletters: Hosts open budget forums every fall and publishes quarterly updates for residents.

“Supervisor Logsdon is one of the few who actually sits down with us and listens,” said a Franklin resident after Tuesday’s meeting.

💵 Where Franklin’s County Share Goes

Milwaukee County data show that Franklin’s contribution funds both local projects and district-wide initiatives that strengthen shared assets. Because Franklin is represented by two supervisors—Patti Logsdon (District 9, west of 51st Street) and Steve F. Taylor (District 17, east of 51st Street)—county investments reach both sides of the city differently.

🏙️ Franklin Projects in Logsdon’s District (West of 51st Street)

• Whitnall Park & Boerner Botanical Gardens: Regional parks that border Franklin, supported through trail resurfacing, drainage, and security upgrades under Logsdon’s oversight.

• Road Improvements: Reconstruction of County Trunk Highway U (76th Street) improves access for west-side residents.

• Library & Human-Service Programs: County-funded library, aging, and housing programs benefit Franklin residents west of 51st Street.

🌳 District-Wide Initiatives Under Logsdon’s Oversight

• Hales Corners Pool Reopening: Community partnership to restore a key recreational facility.

• Lions Park Pavilion Management: Agreement empowering local clubs to reduce county costs.

• Transparency & Data Reforms: Legislation to standardize departmental reporting.

• Public Safety Support: Countywide investment in staff training and compensation.

🏗️ Franklin Project in Taylor’s District (East of 51st Street)

A $2.5 million county-supported, 50-unit supportive-housing project for adults with disabilities is being built at 7521 S. 31st Street in Franklin.
The development is led by Communities of Crocus Inc. (COC), a nonprofit housing organization, with funding from Milwaukee County’s ARPA allocation and local support from Supervisor Steve F. Taylor, in whose 17th District the site is located.
(TMJ4 News; Bader Philanthropies)

Franklin’s 22% contribution funds housing, parks, infrastructure, and services that reach both sides of the city—but the results depend heavily on leadership and engagement.

🏛 Countywide Services & Amenities Supported by Franklin’s 22% Share

The oft-repeated “22%” figure — Franklin’s share of property tax revenue sent to Milwaukee County — doesn’t flow back solely to Franklin city projects. It helps sustain the countywide services and cultural assets that residents across the region use and enjoy every day. Among them:

• 🦓 Milwaukee County Zoo – one of the county’s most visited attractions, supported through county operations and infrastructure funding.

• 🚔 Sheriff’s Office & County Law Enforcement – countywide patrol, jail management, court security, and specialized law-enforcement units.

• 🌳 Milwaukee County Parks System & Trails – more than 150 parks and parkways, including trail maintenance, nature centers, and playgrounds used by Franklin families.

• 💚 Behavioral Health & Addiction Services – community clinics, crisis response, and rehabilitation programs under the Department of Health & Human Services.

• 👵 Aging & Disability Resource Services – senior meal programs, in-home care coordination, and support services for older adults and people with disabilities.

• 🏥 Public Health Programs – vaccination efforts, disease prevention, and emergency preparedness initiatives benefiting all municipalities.

• 📚 Milwaukee County Federated Library System (MCFLS) – connecting Franklin’s library to every public library in the county through shared digital and physical resources.

• 🚍 Regional Transit & Infrastructure – county bus routes, roads, and transportation planning that tie Franklin to the broader metro area.

• ⚖️ Courts & Judicial Services – the county circuit court system, probation and parole services, and legal infrastructure available to all residents.

That 22 % doesn’t vanish into thin air — it underwrites shared amenities and services that make the region work, from the zoo to the parks to the safety net that protects our most vulnerable neighbors.

🌲 Protection of Park Land & Senior Centers

Logsdon has consistently defended Milwaukee County parkland from privatization, warning that leasing or selling public land to developers could open the floodgates for commercialization.

The issue resurfaced in 2025 with the proposed redevelopment of McGovern Park Senior Center, which Logsdon opposed, supporting public programming within existing county facilities.

“Once you start carving off pieces of parkland, you can’t stop the floodgates,” said one Franklin resident, referencing Ballpark Commons as a cautionary example.

⚙️ Historical Context: The Crystal Ridge Redevelopment

In 2017, the County Board sold the former Crystal Ridge landfill site in Franklin to ROC Ventures, developers of Ballpark Commons/The Rock for $1. Then–Supervisor Steve F. Taylor, also serving simultaneously on the Franklin Common Council, led support for the plan, calling it a “game changer” (Urban Milwaukee).

The site was conveyed for a nominal fee of $1, setting a precedent for private use of public-adjacent land—a policy that continues to face scrutiny.

🧩 A Familiar Message from City Hall and County Offices

Mayor Nelson’s 22% tax rhetoric closely mirrors the talking points of Supervisor Steve Taylor, who represents Franklin east of 51st Street and Oak Creek.

Taylor’s online activity centers on Urban Milwaukee press pieces and frequent South Suburban Chamber of Commerce appearances—often three to five per month—while offering no public budget forums this year. 

📸 Visibility Over Accessibility

Unlike Supervisor Logsdon, Steve F. Taylor has not hosted any public budget town hall meetings in the last two budget cycles. County records and social media show no record of constituent forums.

Instead, Taylor’s public calendar highlights ceremonial events—ribbon cuttings, luncheons, and networking functions with the South Suburban Chamber of Commerce. He’s regularly photographed with local officials at Chamber functions in Franklin and Oak Creek, often multiple times per month.

Supporters say these events keep him visible. Critics counter that visibility is not the same as accessibility.

“If you want a photo, he’ll be there. If you want a conversation, good luck,” said one Franklin resident.

🗣️ Emerging Voices and Shared Themes

School Board Member Maqsood Khan has recently echoed Nelson and Taylor’s fiscal messaging, signaling possible coordination ahead of the 2026 County Board races. Whether deliberate or coincidental, the alignment underscores an emerging divide in Franklin politics—between open engagement and controlled messaging.

🕵️ Questions About Communications and Ethics

An April 2025 Franklin Community News investigation revealed that a city-hired public-relations consultant posted online content defending Mayor Nelson. Officials claimed it was not done on city time, but the incident renewed debate about blurred lines between public resources and political messaging. 

⚖️ Two Contrasting Approaches

Supervisor Patti Logsdon		Nelson / Taylor / Khan Bloc
🗣️ Hosts open town halls for residents		💬 Relies on social media and controlled press statements
🧩 Focuses on tangible, community-centered projects		💼 Emphasizes fiscal talking points and messaging control
🤝 Partners with neighborhood and civic organizations		🎀 Appears mainly at Chamber photo ops and media events
🔍 Promotes transparency, accessibility, and dialogue		⚠️ Faces questions about blurred lines in public communications

🌟 Looking Ahead — For the Greater Good

Franklin, Greenfield, and Hales Corners voters will soon choose what kind of leadership they want:
an open-door approach rooted in listening, accountability, and collaboration, or a media-driven style built on visibility and control.

For now, Supervisor Patti Logsdon’s outreach continues—steady, transparent, and focused on real community outcomes.

Her leadership reminds residents that public service isn’t about headlines or hashtags—it’s about people, integrity, and, ultimately, working for the greater good. 

Franklin Community News will keep pressing for answers. We will not be silenced by political pressure. We will continue to investigate, expose, and report on corruption in Franklin. Please support us by liking our page on Facebook: Franklin Community News.