City of Milwaukee - File #: 250001

• File #: 250001
• Version: 0
• Type: Communication
• Status: In Committee
• File created: 4/22/2025
• In control: FINANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
• Title: Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
• Sponsors: THE CHAIR

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
10/3/2025	0	FINANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE	NOT ACTED ON; Minutes note: -Budget Overview Director Kovac gave an overview presentation on the proposed 2026 budget on the following topics: 2026 Proposed Executive Budget, 2026 Proposed Budget Bottom Line, Proposed 2026 Budget Impact on Typical Household, 2026 Proposed Tax Levy: Distribution by Budget Section, Share of GCP by departments and categories, City of Milwaukee 2026 Revenue Sources: Tax Levy Supported Budget, Recent Budget Gap History, How the 2026 Gap was closed There was discussion on the Transporation Fund, DNS Raze and Revive program, vehicle registration fee increase, City reserves, typical household net impact, general city employee 2% wage increase, fee increases, tax levy, capital debt, budget gaps going forward, increased employee health care costs, and departmental/service reductions, and departmental service delivery models and innovation. Information requests were made as follows: DNS Raise and Revive information, map, and information on City lots (Ald. Coggs) OEI report on the impact on vehicle registration fee increase (Ald. Dimitrijevic) Budget to summarize debt service information (Ald. Spiker)
10/3/2025	0	FINANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE	NOT ACTED ON; Minutes note: -Capital Improvements Appearing: Mason Lavey, Budget Office Mr. Lavey gave an overview presentation on Capital Improvements on the following topics: Source of Funds Comparison, Capital Budget by Department, Levy-supported Borrowing, Infrastructure (Streets Program, Streets Outlook, Street Improvements, Street Lighting), Capital (Facility Improvements, Raze & Revive, Equipment, Private Side Lead Lateral Program, Port Milwaukee, Major Projects, Forestry Capital, Enterprise Funds, Looking Forward) There was discussion on local roads, paving, alleys, street light pole damage recovery, snow plows, capital request for Police and Fire fleets, federal grant statuses, chosen MPD fleet types, City Hall facade renovation, Raze and Revive, lead laterals, garbage packers and garbage collection, capital purchase and service model innovation, economic equity consideration on borrowing, debt retirement, and the MRF recycling facility and site. Information requests were made as follows: Budget Office to provie source of funds comparison in percentages (Ald. Spiker) Budget Office to provide capital equipment charts for Police and Fire (Ald. Burgelis) Data on alleys in critical condition (Ald. Burgelis) Success rate data on recovery of costs on downed street light poles (Ald. Burgelis) Data on condition of snow plows and police and fire vehicles (Ald. Burgelis) Further data on garbage packers and garbage collection (Ald. Moore) The MRF recycling facility and site further information (Ald. Burgelis)
10/3/2025	0	FINANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE	NOT ACTED ON; Minutes note: -City Revenue/City Debt Appearing: Mason Lavey, Budget Office Joshua Benson, Comptroller's Office Mr. Lavey gave an overview presentation on City Debt on the following topics: 2026 Budget for City Debt, Public Debt Amortizaton Fund, Debt Repayment, Debt Service Levy (Bond Rating, Tax Levy Impact) There was discussion on debt retirement, $116 borrowing limit, impact on bond rating due to increased debt and Act 12, and bond rating decrease and increase. Appearing: Nathaniel Haack, Budget Office Mr. Haack gave an overview presentation on City Revenue on the following topics: 2026 Revenues Summary, 2026 Revenues for General City Purposes, 2026 Proposed Tax and Fee Increases, 2026 Proposed Fees & Forfeitures, Tax Stabilization Fund, Public Debt Amortization Fund There was discussion on collection of revenues and outstanding debt (unpaid parking tickets), work group on collection of debt, TSF balances and withdrawals, decrease in revenue from permits and licenses, unrecognized revenue before the budget is finalized, PILOT revenue increase, charges for service, sales tax revenue decrease Information requests were made as follows: Breakdown of fee increases (Ald. Spiker) TSF balance and withdrawals data in percentages (Ald. Spiker) List of permits waived by DNS (Ald. Coggs) List of current PILOTS and their status (Ald. Dimitrijevic)
10/3/2025	0	FINANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE	NOT ACTED ON; Minutes note: -Grant & Aid Fund Appearing: Sarah Osborn, Budget Office Ms. Osborn gave an overview presentation on Grant & Aid Fund on the following topics: 2026 Budget Summary, Grants by Department, Grant Expenditures and CGBG & Home Awards (Millions), 2024 Expenditures There was discussion on vulnerable grants (subject to nonreceipt) and exposure, funding and hiring/layoff of personnel funded by grants, Information requests were made as follows: Detailed breakdown of cancelled grants (Ald. Burgelis)
10/3/2025	0	FINANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE	NOT ACTED ON; Minutes note: -CC Contingent Fund Mr. Rynders gave an overview presentation on the CC Contingent Fund regarding Purpose of Contingent Fund and 2026 Budget Summary. There was discussion on vulnerable grants (subject to nonreceipt) and exposure, funding and hiring/layoff of personnel funded by grants, carryover Information requests were made as follows: Detailed breakdown of cancelled grants (Ald. Burgelis) Information on ability to carryover (Ald. Coggs) 10-year history of CC Contingent Fund (Ald. Spiker)
10/3/2025	0	FINANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE	NOT ACTED ON; Minutes note: -Tax Stabilization Fund Appearing: Nathaniel Haack, Budget Office Overview of the TSF was covered during the City Revenue presentation. There was discussion on vehicle registration fee increase (implementation, timing on approval, impact on TSF withdrawal, spending of revenue generated, loss of revenue without an expedited approval, City Attorney opinion, and collaborative approach to review)
10/3/2025	0	FINANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE	HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR	Pass	5:0
4/22/2025	0	COMMON COUNCIL	ASSIGNED TO

Number

250001

Version

Original

Reference

Sponsor

THE CHAIR

Title

Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.

Drafter

Common Council-City Clerk’s Office

Laurie Phillip

4/16/2024