Monroe Common Council
Larry Christopher III is challenging incumbent Michael Boyce for the Ward 3 seat on the Monroe Common Council.
Name: Michael A. Boyce
Position sought: Alder Ward 3
Age: 49
City/town of residence: Monroe
Family: Wife, Chrissy; sons, Brennan, 10, Jimmy, 9
Education: BA English University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Occupation: Vice president Property & Casualty-Robertson Ryan & Associates
Previous elected positions held: Ward 3 Alder since April 2010
What are the top issues facing this district/board and how would you work to resolve them?
The top issue facing the city of Monroe is its high property tax rate. Relative to a home's assessed value, the city of Monroe's property tax is among the highest in Wisconsin and the nation. I will try to resolve this issue by working with elected officials and staff to adopt a budget that is innovative, fair to all, and lowers property taxes.
What are other key issues facing the district/board, and how would you work to resolve them?
Public safety is the most important service a city performs. Public safety isn't an issue that needs to be resolved, rather it is an issue that requires detailed attention by elected officials and staff.
Public safety spending is almost 40 percent of the city's annual budget. In addition, City of Monroe taxpayers pay about $1.8 million to the Green County sheriff. Combined, Monroe taxpayers spend annually over $5 million on public safety, for a city just under 11,000 residents. That works out to be $454 per person every year.
In consultation with Chief Fred Kelley and the Public Safety Committee, I proposed hiring the Center for Public Safety Management to perform a public safety workload and staffing analysis. The last study was done in 2000.
This expert analysis is used effectively by other communities. It is an objective review by experts of how actual public safety workload compares to deployment and public demand for services.
Importantly, the expert analysis allows elected officials to make critical informed decisions about the most important and vital function performed by the city.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
I possess 20 plus years of experience working with a diverse assortment of public, private, and not-for profit entities across the state of Wisconsin, providing counsel on issues such as: insurance, finance, human resources, contracts, public relations, and marketing.
Similarly, I have four years of elective experience serving the public through representation to assure the proper management and control of city property and finances, and to act for the good order of the city, for its commercial benefit, and for the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
Finally, I'm a homeowner and pay property taxes.
Position sought: Alder Ward 3
Age: 49
City/town of residence: Monroe
Family: Wife, Chrissy; sons, Brennan, 10, Jimmy, 9
Education: BA English University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Occupation: Vice president Property & Casualty-Robertson Ryan & Associates
Previous elected positions held: Ward 3 Alder since April 2010
What are the top issues facing this district/board and how would you work to resolve them?
The top issue facing the city of Monroe is its high property tax rate. Relative to a home's assessed value, the city of Monroe's property tax is among the highest in Wisconsin and the nation. I will try to resolve this issue by working with elected officials and staff to adopt a budget that is innovative, fair to all, and lowers property taxes.
What are other key issues facing the district/board, and how would you work to resolve them?
Public safety is the most important service a city performs. Public safety isn't an issue that needs to be resolved, rather it is an issue that requires detailed attention by elected officials and staff.
Public safety spending is almost 40 percent of the city's annual budget. In addition, City of Monroe taxpayers pay about $1.8 million to the Green County sheriff. Combined, Monroe taxpayers spend annually over $5 million on public safety, for a city just under 11,000 residents. That works out to be $454 per person every year.
In consultation with Chief Fred Kelley and the Public Safety Committee, I proposed hiring the Center for Public Safety Management to perform a public safety workload and staffing analysis. The last study was done in 2000.
This expert analysis is used effectively by other communities. It is an objective review by experts of how actual public safety workload compares to deployment and public demand for services.
Importantly, the expert analysis allows elected officials to make critical informed decisions about the most important and vital function performed by the city.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
I possess 20 plus years of experience working with a diverse assortment of public, private, and not-for profit entities across the state of Wisconsin, providing counsel on issues such as: insurance, finance, human resources, contracts, public relations, and marketing.
Similarly, I have four years of elective experience serving the public through representation to assure the proper management and control of city property and finances, and to act for the good order of the city, for its commercial benefit, and for the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
Finally, I'm a homeowner and pay property taxes.