[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6591696,"mediaKeyId","3042957-2c69af5167e9c3771c851e97a16dc76a","parentId",3042957,"title","Comptroller projects $3.7 million deficit for 2025; sales tax and health care costs cited as key uncertainties","audioSeconds",1440,"startMs",1980000,"endMs",3420000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042957-2c69af5167e9c3771c851e97a16dc76a&start=1980&end=3420","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042957-2c69af5167e9c3771c851e97a16dc76a/thumbnail_1980000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6591696/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Comptroller-projects-37-million-deficit-for-2025-sales-tax-and-health-care-costs-cited-as-key-uncertainties","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6591696-41af0098c841a518aed774efa06fb2c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770724575&Signature=GqpT21vCM-TV1i6UafZmUAHEAaZCZ-wESiNoNOkZw~~F81Gpu9~BFugtghvT9VG~WXivHuY~802JNYzfUwFpEgDrxnj7hUyA3ODwieE9ZCkcWvkaDQZhbhFWsPouKfET5n24P7r5RfnwTwLEQbtNLrYo-YsnKbrvn8uwKNKTX2TskeM-umzQFtAhW7GFb~079tB71kSubQTdcq2UHq8~NnSN2OzpDXOvmtW1Pw6iShIiwJqn2tByDhkxCNYfRdBIEV3Q1gsoEmpCGcmFvbN3l~72KsTw6SP6GiKngB0KjShKaHIy8yyZptns4BD1xqJ6N-fCQKHKO7nIyG8w0v-DKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Milwaukee County","date","2025-04-17T00:00:00Z","article","Milwaukee County's Office of the Comptroller told the Finance Committee that the county's preliminary February projection for 2025 shows a reduced deficit of roughly $3.7 million, with major drivers including sales tax collections and healthcare spending.

Financial Services Director CJ Paul presented the February fiscal report and said the county's sales tax shortfall was estimated at about $5.6 million under a flat remainder‑of‑year assumption. Paul cautioned that the office had only about a month and a half of collection data and that the sales tax outlook could change. He said a $2.5 million surplus in fringe benefits (largely from pension and WRS contribution timing) partially offsets that shortfall.

Paul said healthcare costs were not looking favorable through the first quarter because prescription drug spending has increased year over year, though rebates may offset some of that pressure. He said investment earnings are being monitored and the county is projecting roughly a $5 million surplus possibility from investment earnings depending on market conditions.

During Q&A, Supervisor Roland and others asked whether end‑of‑year adjustments similar to last year (investment earnings and departmental surpluses) could improve the picture; Paul and Joe Lamers (director of SBP) said there were possible levers — investment mark‑to‑market recoveries, departmental surpluses (including DHHS) and rebate timing — but those are uncertain and timing dependent. Lamers said sales tax performance over the next months will be determinative and that a modest increase in sales tax growth could materially close the gap.

Supervisor Anne O'Connor asked about the per‑bed cost of placements such as Lincoln Hills; Lamers said placement costs are very high — between $400,000 and $500,000 per bed per year — and that small changes in placement counts can materially affect DHHS spending.

Ending: The comptroller's office will continue monitoring sales tax collections, healthcare spending and investment returns and update projections as new data becomes available. The committee received the report; no formal action was taken.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Milwaukee County - Committee on Finance on 2025-04-17 9:00 AM - HYBRID MEETINGThis meeting will be held in Room 203-R, and will be live-streamed on the County Legislative Information Center: https://milwaukeecounty.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx - Apr 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Office of the Comptroller reported a February projection showing a narrowed 2025 deficit of about $3.7 million, citing sales tax shortfalls and rising health care costs as main drivers and noting a possible $5 million upside from investment earnings.","taxTitle","Milwaukee County, Wisconsin","taxId",2736,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6591700,"County capital planners warn of large gap for 2026 budget; IJCC cited as major driver",480,2760000,3240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042957-2c69af5167e9c3771c851e97a16dc76a&start=2760&end=3240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042957-2c69af5167e9c3771c851e97a16dc76a/thumbnail_2760000.jpg","/articles/6591700/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/County-capital-planners-warn-of-large-gap-for-2026-budget-IJCC-cited-as-major-driver","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6591700-8fb5a460f11a16fde9197d83b342ebf3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770724575&Signature=dOw5dYvfW-psr2TrTBAqDzLuJpoX0poehzKlf2-KRI4M9yXxLBUt8xiU0o~1HPx3cehTUo~3uZ9aprzTPANdfqahaGEKw2ol~qb02CywhfvO8tDvdF3O8zupSMVv3KfFy6QutPHkDzVPFrMmKMkOwAOAUfzBvo5Bp88IfVI0b53R~BrUqkrY0a~CkQNWb7GyBwTlOhcXtlFecpQ1QShlLEt~01P1bdOwxA7xvI9DnpB72ag15wR8gbd-RTIEnIFW8XM8VS8YNlXmXEvTUPG-PSoJI656iUjh4M1XCduoCEcYlcNg9-M2mgOn-v8xus~JcwT--bd0LamGUCCKOxBctQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Milwaukee County capital planners told the Finance Committee the county is likely to face a major funding gap for capital projects in 2026 and over the next five years unless external financing or reprioritization occurs.

Vince Masterson, capital budget coordinator in the Office of Strategy, Budget, and Performance, explained the \"design-first\" approach that phases design funding in the first year and schedules construction appropriations later so final scope and cost estimates are developed before construction budgeting. Masterson said the county uses an internal policy capping annual bonding increases at 3% over the prior year's adopted bond amount; with a 2025 base of $55,200,000, the 2026 bonding cap is $56,800,000.

Masterson presented preliminary estimates that 2026 bond-eligible requests will likely total between about $101,000,000 and $190,000,000, producing a projected bonding gap in 2026 between roughly $43,000,000 and $52,000,000. He said the county's cash (nonbond) financing goal is about 20% of net county capital funding (about $14,200,000 for 2026), but demand for cash-financed projects also exceeds that goal by an estimated $27,000,000 to $36,000,000.

The briefing identified several large projects: the Investing in Justice / Courthouse (IJCC) project with a $23.7 million county-phase cost in 2026 and an anticipated $150 million construction sequence in 2027–2029; a Bayview revetment project estimated at $17.3 million; and digitization of vital records estimated at $16.1 million. Masterson summarized a five‑year outlook that shows roughly $1.1 billion in projected capital needs versus about $377 million in available county funding, implying a multi‑year county shortfall of approximately $743 million; excluding the IJCC reduces the five‑year shortfall to about $269 million.

Committee questions focused on how cost escalation, tariffs and market volatility are factored into estimates; Masterson said departments will update cost estimates in the design period (May 1–30 cycle) and build contingencies for tariff and market risks to produce a rough planning baseline for out‑year construction. Supervisors asked about specific projects not listed in the five‑year plan (for example, the Domes and McGovern Senior Center); staff said items added after the plan's development or projects with unique external financing approaches may not appear in the current five‑year table and could be considered separately.

Masterson recommended using the design‑first approach and capital scoring criteria to rank projects and counselled policymakers to prioritize projects that address life‑safety, completed designs, mandated obligations, and leverage noncounty revenue sources. The committee asked staff to continue updates as departments submit refined cost estimates and to include the Capital Improvement Committee (CIC) in the process.

Ending: The informational briefing set expectations for a constrained 2026 capital budget and stressed the need for prioritization, updated cost estimating, external funding and use of the design‑first approach to reduce cost uncertainty before construction appropriations are requested.","County capital staff briefed the Finance Committee on the 2026 capital budget timeline, design-first approach and an estimated multi-year funding shortfall driven largely by the Investing in Justice/Courthouse project (IJCC).",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6591705,"Finance committee drops Uber/Lyft pilot, redirects $35,000 to van relief program for transit operators",910,810000,1720000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042957-2c69af5167e9c3771c851e97a16dc76a&start=810&end=1720","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042957-2c69af5167e9c3771c851e97a16dc76a/thumbnail_810000.jpg","/articles/6591705/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Finance-committee-drops-UberLyft-pilot-redirects-35000-to-van-relief-program-for-transit-operators","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6591705-47a89ea2b39c80ebc7702e9d27fa022c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770724575&Signature=BbRbiiLFPK6Q1ieshynl~ol4ZGi0JN8BfHJN2tRbYr0JhN~zpoe7mytR1vSAVGqo9I7XMcumqXFIiZmtzhJ8pzbMjOPsVLilrUd~dhgfqA8t6DvevqlJWE50-JCQB1yrY0SzaTZCnP6jgWm6Mk4EZ9J0U7FDe1Oy4uMGTLzGTrWH6VmMSb76P2vRQB279e6~X2rwcr-NeSNRlurjxpHsvXB6ylE1Lb-OxNJTyJuL7idFimGsc6qvudIHRgmlf-5-2QaO6lRUPPkMUtfk7lw9LBLDCgtFEuxDAw2Gp1bZpDrChD3LlX9pRjWbNkznYN-MmzeDYmozOXijSgTMsba8eA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Milwaukee County Committee on Finance voted to end plans for a Transportation Network Company (TNC) pilot for operator relief and instead repurpose the $35,000 budget toward a van-based relief pilot for Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) operators.

MCTS Chief Operating Officer Kevin Pumphrey told the committee the TNC pilot would have covered 23 rides per day at $10 per ride — about $6,150 per week — and that the $35,000 budget would likely be exhausted in roughly six weeks. \"Given those results ... the cost of the relief rides and the funding for this pilot program is estimated to be exhausted within 6 weeks. We're recommending that this pilot not be implemented,\" Pumphrey said.

The pilot recommendation prompted public comment and union testimony. Michael Brown of ATU Local 998 told the committee the union opposed the TNC approach and favored a van relief model already in limited use at some stations. Brown said the van program focuses on getting operators from stations to relief points to improve safety and on-time performance, and criticized the $35,000 estimate as insufficient for a TNC approach.

Supervisors Tobias Martinez and Tobias Balinski introduced an amendment to repurpose the $35,000 from the TNC pilot to expenses related to a van relief pilot, including operator wages, fuel and vehicle maintenance. Supervisor Balinski moved the amendment; the roll call on the amendment was Supervisor Steve Taylor (District 17) No; Martinez Aye; Balinski Aye; Anne O'Connor Aye; Chair Willie Johnson Aye (4 ayes, 1 no). The committee then voted to adopt the underlying file as amended; the final roll call on adoption as amended matched the amendment vote (4 ayes, 1 no).

The committee's action directs the $35,000 originally budgeted for the TNC pilot to the van relief pilot and adopts the underlying budget amendment as amended. Committee members discussed broader transit funding and operational challenges, including vehicle orders and ongoing negotiations with ATU Local 998 regarding vans and staffing.

The vote short-circuited plans to test Uber/Lyft/HopSkipJump-style rides for operator relief at the originally proposed funding level and instead consolidates county support behind a van-based pilot the union and transit staff described as focused on operator safety and reliable relief points. The action does not create long-term recurring funding; the repurposed $35,000 is a one-time allocation tied to the current 2025 adopted budget amendment.

Implementation and follow-up: MCTS staff and union representatives indicated continued negotiations related to broader relief strategies and vehicle procurement. The committee did not specify additional ongoing funding beyond the $35,000 reallocation in the amended item.

Ending: The committee approved the amended resolution by a 4–1 vote; Supervisor Taylor was the sole dissenting vote. The committee's action moves support away from a short-term TNC-based pilot toward a van relief pilot intended to provide targeted relief and improve operator safety and on-time performance.","Milwaukee County Transit System recommended not implementing a Transportation Network Company (TNC) pilot after estimating the $35,000 allocation would be exhausted in about six weeks; the County Finance Committee voted to repurpose the funds toward a van-based relief pilot and adopted the resolution as amended.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Comptroller projects $3.7 million deficit for 2025; sales tax and health care costs cited as key uncertainties

County capital planners warn of large gap for 2026 budget; IJCC cited as major driver

Finance committee drops Uber/Lyft pilot, redirects $35,000 to van relief program for transit operators