Hermes To Legislators: Don't Remove Our Residency Requirement

Updated 6:45 a.m. Friday

Greendale village president John Hermes asked state Legislators Thursday to remove a provision in the state budget that would remove residency requirements for municipal employees.

The hearing was the first of four being held around the state to give residents the chance to have their say on Gov. Scott Walker’s 2013-15 budget. After the hearings, the committee will vote on any changes before sending their version on to the Assembly and Senate.

Hermes spoke at the Joint Finance Committee hearing on the state budget held at Greendale High School.

"Local taxpayers truly expect delivery of critical and urgent services from local government," Hermes said. "Collectively, we need to take a look at recent critical incidents locally, around our state and our nation and realize how important response time factors enter into saving both life and property."

The village currently requires certain municipal employees in public safety and public works to live within 15 miles of the village. However, a provision in the state budget would remove that requirement.

"Clearly, a local community's ability to control employment conditions and its own response needs has long been - and should remain - a state constitutional home rule right," Hermes added.

 Editor's note: this version corrects Hermes' quote to include the reference to the state budget.