So when media write about Madison's property valuations passing Milwaukee's, keep in mind:
* Even with so-called small government Republicans in charge - - so-called, given their addiction to subsidies and wipe outs of local governmental authority - - government impacts population and property value growth in ways both substantial and subtle.
* Even with so-called small government Republicans in charge - - so-called, given their addiction to subsidies and wipe outs of local governmental authority - - government impacts population and property value growth in ways both substantial and subtle.
* Milwaukee has been land-locked since the adoption of a special state law in 1955. Madison's annexation advantage was mentioned in the Journal Sentinel's coverage of the property valuation disparity, but the state law was not.
It's ironic that the law freezing Milwaukee's boundaries was known as the Oak Creek law because the central dispute at the time involved a power generating station there, and today Oak Creek's development is being spurred by major developments by Northwestern Mutual and IKEA.
And if you are familiar with Milwaukee's frozen western border, you can't help but notice the gigantic medical complex on Milwaukee County land in the City of Wauwatosa, including Children's Hospital which was moved out of Milwaukee's near west side/downtown, taking jobs with it.
And if you are familiar with Milwaukee's frozen western border, you can't help but notice the gigantic medical complex on Milwaukee County land in the City of Wauwatosa, including Children's Hospital which was moved out of Milwaukee's near west side/downtown, taking jobs with it.
* Highway expansion which is 100% publicly-financed with the encouragement of 100% government-funded regional government planners working in a suburban setting with a similarly-constructed workforce and philosophy - - and no designated city commissioner among the twenty-one who run it - - has been poured into the Milwaukee area by the billions of dollars to serve suburban commuters while simultaneously removing taxable property from City of Milwaukee tax rolls.
* And don't forget to factor in other government subsidies and policies which encourage growth at the edges and exurbs, from tax incremental financing to industrial revenue bonding to state and federal property tax and mortgage deductions.
Of course these programs are available in Milwaukee, too, but the city must principally grow vertically inside government-enforced borders, while Madison and other communities have far more latitude and land with which to work.
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| Waukesha County's Pabst Farms residential and commercial development on has been assisted by millions of dollars in publicly-financed local TIF funding, and state highway spending which included an expanded I-94 interchange, access roads and roundabouts. |
Of course these programs are available in Milwaukee, too, but the city must principally grow vertically inside government-enforced borders, while Madison and other communities have far more latitude and land with which to work.