While the 2013 Milwaukee County budget process certainly will contain its share of hard choices and intense debates, there can be little disputing that this is the least difficult county budget in years. While the term “least difficult” needs to be considered in the context of the exorbitant challenges associated with many previous county budgets, this year’s executive budget may be the first to avoid widespread service cuts since a perfect storm of Pension Fund investment losses, stagnant state revenues, and irresponsible pension enhancements first ravaged the county’s finances a decade ago.