Mayor Barrett Announces Awards to Assess City Departments

Mayor Barrett Announces Awards to Assess City Departments

(Milwaukee) – Mayor Tom Barrett announced today the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and The Helen Bader Foundation, Inc. are awarding a total of $160,000 to the City of Milwaukee to help undertake a thorough organizational assessment of the Department of Public Works and the Board of the Fire and Police Commission, the civilian body that oversees general policy in the City's Fire and Police departments.  The Greater Milwaukee Foundation is donating $100,000 and The Helen Bader Foundation is contributing $60,000 to these efforts.

"This will be the first top-to-bottom look at the Fire and Police Commission and Department of Public Works in recent memory," said Mayor Tom Barrett. "It's important that we take a step back, ask why we do things the way we currently do, and then see if there are ways to make city departments more responsive and accountable to the public's needs."

"Public safety should be the top priority of any local government," said Daniel Bader, Foundation president. "I am pleased that the City of Milwaukee is open to seeing what procedures work in other cities, so we can build on those successes here."

The City is in the process of defining the scope of work for the respective departmental assessments. Later this summer, independent consultant teams will be hired through an RFP process and the respective reviews will begin.

Barrett stated, "I made a commitment to secure outside funding for the purpose of assessing these two City departments. I am grateful that the Helen Bader Foundation and the Milwaukee Foundation recognized the importance of reviewing and improving critical City Services".

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation helps people establish permanent charitable funds that serve people throughout Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties and beyond. Because donors name each fund and choose the causes it serves, they enjoy the individuality of a private foundation. Because these funds are united under one organizational roof, they gain the superior cost effectiveness and tax benefits of a large public charity.

The Helen Bader Foundation, Inc. supports innovative projects and programs that advance the well-being of people and promote successful relationships with their families and communities. With offices in Milwaukee and Jerusalem, the Foundation has awarded more than $134 million in grants since it was established in 1992.