[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6426341,"mediaKeyId","5886248-a592451887adcaa4c0f8c74c7c6c2bbb","parentId",5886248,"title","Council told $10 vehicle-registration increase would raise $2.75 million in 2026; Nov. 3 deadline affects timing","audioSeconds",4059,"startMs",9117000,"endMs",13176000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5886248-a592451887adcaa4c0f8c74c7c6c2bbb&start=9117&end=13176","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5886248-a592451887adcaa4c0f8c74c7c6c2bbb/thumbnail_9117000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6426341/Milwaukee/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Council-told-10-vehicle-registration-increase-would-raise-275-million-in-2026-Nov-3-deadline-affects-timing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6426341-f26d621f06870b16237c34b3eec21afa/orig.mp4?Expires=1773190447&Signature=kAp5lv-kPdx2W21WiFCJ1FXQuwUBOUmGB0fKYjOCA1i2TgcTX52sXM9ab3CY3SQ39zISARPZFjk2SJFWDYau2rzvi7iSRAPmPgqjWxzeR~MzM3b8S1kkVNh-WGvdTHK7oaAKy~g8drDa0Pqhkk7DrsszJfDWhagHqmEBqOLubm4qJpLspDL64EBbpnVKV6D1ll~~0bIX4uc26kpFW11fzvNKuw0dB3l1psi~YARY0hJPRt7rr0mb7gIz8zP9UrUbVd3LFM5daGYsTtlG7lJq6S1NnEfuoKyR9O4bvdptQh~pD80owTnpzPaJSLc6TYkZQMlbeZXWhU5g9~977ZMM2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Milwaukee, WI","date","2025-10-03T09:14:00Z","article","Budget analysts told the Common Council committee the mayor's proposal to raise the city vehicle registration fee from $30 to $40 would generate roughly $2,750,000 for 2026 if the ordinance and implementation timelines allow.

Nathaniel Hack said the administration estimates the $10 increase would yield $2,750,000 in 2026 with a full-year effect of about $3,000,000 thereafter. Hack cautioned that the DOT requires a minimum implementation notice (roughly 90 days) after the ordinance is filed and signed, which affects the effective date and near‑term revenue. Budget and legislative staff said that without meeting the implementation timing the earliest practicable effective date would shift, costing the city about $250,000 per month of delay.

Committee members raised several governance and timing questions: the committee chair and aldermen asked what council action would be required and whether the mayor’s signature and the state’s notice window could be met in time to make the February 1 effective date cited by administration materials. Budget staff said the council could approve the ordinance and send it to the mayor and that, to reach a February 1 effective date, the signed ordinance would need to be in the DOT's hands by Monday, Nov. 3, at 3 p.m.; if approval slipped past that date and the ordinance could not be filed in time, the city would lose one month of revenue (about $250,000).

Use of proceeds and equity concerns: Hack and other staff described the revenue as general fund revenue (not automatically dedicated to roads) and said the mayor proposed using the money in the general city purposes budget. Several aldermen questioned the equity of fee increases relative to property tax increases, noting that per‑capita or income‑sensitivity concerns make user-fee increases more regressive in some cases.

Ending: Staff committed to provide a written legal timeline and an implementation memo from the city attorney and DOT contacts so the council can weigh how the ordinance’s timing and any potential amendments would affect the 2026 budget.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","FINANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE on 2025-10-03 9:00 AM - 2026 BUDGET HEARINGSThis is also a virtual meeting. Those wishing to view the proceedings are able to do so via the City Channel - Channel 25 on Spectrum Cable - or on the Internet at http://city.m","oneSentenceSummary","Budget analysts said a proposed $10 vehicle-registration fee increase would raise about $2.75 million in 2026 if the council and mayor approve the ordinance and state implementation timelines are met.","taxTitle","Milwaukee , Milwaukee County, Wisconsin","taxId",2851,"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},6426357,"Sales tax growth helps pension payments; city plans $32.3M TSF withdrawal as other revenues rise modestly",8780,375000,9155000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5886248-a592451887adcaa4c0f8c74c7c6c2bbb&start=375&end=9155","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5886248-a592451887adcaa4c0f8c74c7c6c2bbb/thumbnail_375000.jpg","/articles/6426357/Milwaukee/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Sales-tax-growth-helps-pension-payments-city-plans-323M-TSF-withdrawal-as-other-revenues-rise-modestly","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6426357-4ae614b49ee9d487876e68ca862e6d78/orig.mp4?Expires=1773190447&Signature=j1GZylSU1lkcosHTiQ4s-NEB~K-Q2eDRvqKCA5SvgLDnIeUxEp4xc3XuDMoDLIQ2WZVUh39OKDxkmZW13lbmTDPvfE62jsJ7hSFM11tcrQOuJZ~Ne9JedCEiuuAJasqz96d2ZlBo3nF3sDhpIR-isxBhSYHlQwMwJQ5LiYWzF3kTx8S7tf2P0lfhe~~Mq8TqpU6hwjd7OZsTnqnxLTp05ctC~IeAOStKOpjzxXNp406zxJoe8L3423Wg0QV-bx10rGMhp2Et8dZUH5OZ10t5r42KKY99n6mCw7LFijvkjqPuT03T3gdz6H64t24aYGJJdY9X2kVlap6C7Jak48cnNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Budget analysts presented the revenue side of the proposed 2026 plan and explained how new and existing revenue streams interact with state rules governing pension funding.

Nathaniel Hack of the Budget Management Division summarized the city’s revenue outlook for general city purposes, saying the administration expects total revenues available to the general city purposes budget to increase modestly in 2026 but remain below inflation-adjusted levels from earlier years. Hack said that while total sales tax collections have risen — to about $206,000,000 projected in 2026 — a larger share of that money is now required for pension costs under state law changes (Act 12), so sales-tax funds available for non-public-safety general city purposes fall.

Pension effect and Act 12: Budget staff and the comptroller said Act 12’s pension funding rules and a lower discount rate used by the pension actuary raised the city’s pension bill materially. The budget office described a timing issue: actuary-driven pension amounts were finalized in June and were roughly $12,000,000 higher than earlier expectations, increasing the total gap to roughly $101,000,000 for the fiscal year.

TSF and other withdrawals: The mayor proposes a $32,300,000 withdrawal from the Tax Stabilization Fund for 2026 and a $6,000,000 withdrawal from the Public Debt Amortization Fund to help close the gap. Budget staff cautioned that these draws are sustainable only in the short term and that future withdrawals likely will be lower, citing the transport fund’s current deficit and timing of pension catch-up booking.

Transportation fund and other non-levy items: Kovac and others told the committee the transportation fund currently shows a deficit north of $31,000,000 that will require general-fund advancement to cover in the short term. Staff said the administration expects continued pressure on reserves if underlying structural gaps remain.

Bond rating and fiscal outlook: Joshua Benson of the Comptroller’s office said bond-rating agencies have cited the city’s net liabilities (including pension and OPEB) and fund-balance levels as important credit factors. He noted recent positive movement in agency discussions but said rating agencies typically require a year of sustained results before upgrading. Comptroller staff said the proposal aims to preserve investment-grade ratings while limiting service reductions.

Ending: Staff said they will supply more detailed spreadsheets and actuarial assumptions to the council on request, including a clearer explanation of the timing, the pension calculations and the projected effect of the proposed TSF withdrawal on future years’ flexibility.","Budget analysts told the Common Council committee that sales tax growth and modest state revenue increases helped reduce the fiscal gap but that state pension rules and an actuarial catch-up pushed pension costs higher.",{"_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},6426363,"City presents proposed $2.07 billion 2026 budget; pension costs and fee increases drive gap",3823,179000,4002000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5886248-a592451887adcaa4c0f8c74c7c6c2bbb&start=179&end=4002","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5886248-a592451887adcaa4c0f8c74c7c6c2bbb/thumbnail_179000.jpg","/articles/6426363/Milwaukee/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/City-presents-proposed-207-billion-2026-budget-pension-costs-and-fee-increases-drive-gap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6426363-787a2c633470db0517ce4f2e3bb4da92/orig.mp4?Expires=1773190447&Signature=SWYIkfOhfnPTf9gHwWSAq1OYJ1v6NwAUuojDml6gm4DxueoEj6Bg0TABPjQNPNfZwzKt7wgjWbNIgVyIPk-~Uj9OJOjmqLThkuGmBa6ePvTTybNx~Z4XoS1tX6jGcDLCvnHSP9xO8TNYr6HgRvfC8BQkjkpqKpGI5MY~-1PDuARF2mKqcGMeqV42V-wLJ2Gruhnv3BuqVfgP6sYprFOFbbCNDOJQgNG~6mcVUZBDUD-wyh3RuOxc6Tgo9N-aXDvhOygmEVcN1hjTVb7JAH6ON02un7B1vDgjl4CroxVLDoJ6VwHa4UqJU-GIGSXcIky6YQVDL4V7HP6-4o2tjoQ-4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alderman Marina Dimitrijevich, chairwoman of the Common Council committee, opened the hearing Friday and turned the presentation over to Nick Kovac, director of the Budget Management Division, to present Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s proposed 2026 executive budget for the city of Milwaukee.

Kovac said the total proposed 2026 budget is $2,070,000,000. About $1,580,000,000 of that is tax-levy supported; the proposed tax levy is $333,900,000, a 3% increase from 2025. Non-levy funds, including enterprise funds for water and sewer, grant-and-aid and settlement accounts, total about $484,900,000.

Why it matters: Kovac and council members emphasized that the budget gap this year was driven primarily by unexpectedly higher pension costs and the timing of contract settlements for city public safety employees. Kovac said the starting planning gap in May was about $88,000,000 and grew to roughly $101,000,000 after the actuary’s finalized pension charge arrived in June.

Kovac put the mayor’s proposed responses on the table: modest revenue increases including a 3% levy increase, a $10 rise in the vehicle registration fee proposed to take effect if approved, and fee adjustments for major user charges (solid waste, sanitation, sewer, stormwater, snow and street lighting). He said the mayor proposes a $32,300,000 withdrawal from the Tax Stabilization Fund (TSF) for 2026 and a $6,000,000 withdrawal from the Public Debt Amortization Fund, the same amounts used in 2025.

Kovac presented household impacts the administration computed: the typical household municipal impact from taxes and user fees in the proposal is presented as roughly $90 annually; the speaker stressed this is an estimate based on median residential value and assessments.

Public safety and bargaining timing: Kovac explained that comparisons among years are shaped by the timing of contract settlements. He said the fire department’s 2026 budget includes 2026-level wage costs because its contract settled recently; police bargaining remains unsettled and their wages are not fully accounted at 2026 levels. Kovac told the committee that if police settlement amounts increase in arbitration, the police share of the general city purposes budget would rise.

Service, equity and staffing items: The budget would fund a 2% across-the-board wage increase for general city employees; Kovac indicated that cost sits in a separate wage supplement account and totals roughly $4,600,000. He also noted some program-level changes the mayor proposed after examining usage data — for example, continuing year‑round Sunday hours at Central Library while discontinuing Sunday hours at two smaller branches after a year of usage data.

Next steps and availability of materials: Kovac said department-by-department details and the full budget book were provided to committee members, and analysts from the Budget Management Division and the Legislative Reference Bureau were available to answer follow-up questions as the committee moves into hearings and potential amendments in October and November.

Ending: Kovac and the committee agreed to proceed into subject-specific presentations (capital, revenue and debt, grant and aid, contingent funds and TSF) and to schedule follow-up requests for additional detail on fees, the pension numbers and household impacts.","Budget director Nick Kovac and staff presented Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s proposed 2026 executive budget to the Common Council committee, outlining a $2.07 billion plan, a 3% levy increase and fee hikes to cover a gap largely driven by rising pension costs and recent contractual timing differences for public safety.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6426348,"Mayor's capital plan asks $232.6 million; borrowing to fund streets, fleet and facilities",1467,4026000,5493000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5886248-a592451887adcaa4c0f8c74c7c6c2bbb&start=4026&end=5493","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5886248-a592451887adcaa4c0f8c74c7c6c2bbb/thumbnail_4026000.jpg","/articles/6426348/Milwaukee/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Mayors-capital-plan-asks-2326-million-borrowing-to-fund-streets-fleet-and-facilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6426348-71944bebc2e6db65b81aeac1355a7d39/orig.mp4?Expires=1773190447&Signature=lzSQyqx8VgcR7OAcfitJiTP6AoAX-9wZmAGnJ3onMofLgXKIa9V9YGo9FQBj6mWAPOZz-EJMlg9YtkCLvW6fEbjkfmHeH98qEq5ApoFnNkd7Ni40LMjS373SeKogm9Q7Ff97lJWOyfHcYda7K2FcmgEpzYof5nq-hSKI9qQT7tRwbIW4gausqsTucFajumLyQwkdIYzZU3-7fV1LO4o1JAzrhKxtf-0fr~5SJkB~ywi1RwXeIPBll4Ew6BHhB1l25O2Ppj7iKagHFdOqyu0bR~KeEnkLTKmUgmbrC6-nU70yxM4ldKHqjtfqA907ldNhVHtf-bdSawT7jRBtTAS4HQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mason Lavey, the city’s capital budget manager, presented the mayor’s proposed 2026 capital budget to the committee and described priorities, funding sources and a multiyear borrowing plan.

Top line: Lavey said the total proposed capital budget for 2026 is $232,600,000, an increase of about $13,900,000 from the adopted 2025 capital plan. The administration proposes $116,000,000 of borrowing supported by levy and other revenue. Lavey said borrowing in this range follows a planned three‑year increase to address multi‑year projects.

Streets and federal matches: Lavey told the committee the administration expects roughly $98,500,000 in street infrastructure funds in 2026 when state and federal paving grants and local matches are combined. He said local reconstruction and high‑impact paving totals about $16.7 million in city dollars (roughly $1 million of that comes from special assessments), plus local matches for federal/state paving that Lavey estimated at $18.1 million.

Facilities and fleet: The mayor proposes $19.7 million for facility projects (fire, police, libraries and public works) and $14.0 million for capital equipment purchases in 2026. DPW’s fleet plan includes a push to buy 10 garbage packers annually rather than the historical eight; Lavey showed a modeling table demonstrating that purchasing 10 a year would reduce the average packer age over time and avoid future shortages.

Major projects and priorities: Lavey listed multiyear projects that drive capital needs: the joint public-safety radio system (recently closed out), replacement of the ERP (HR/finance system), and a planned Municipal Services building replacement in the Menomonee Valley. Port Milwaukee’s cruise-dock project remains in the stack and requires a small additional funding increment to complete the funding stack.

Raise and Revive and housing: The mayor proposes $4.4 million for Raise and Revive in 2026, split among in‑house demolitions, contracted demolitions and gap financing for affordable home construction on vacant lots. Lavey said the $1.6 million portion for new construction is expected to help finance roughly 14 home-building opportunities on previously raised lots.

Debt trade-offs and constraints: Lavey and Kovac told the committee they cannot fund all requested capital projects in the near term — departments requested roughly $240 million while the proposed borrowing was about $116 million. They emphasized the capital plan reflects trade-offs among leveraging federal/state grants, investing in facilities and reducing the age of critical fleet assets.

Ending: City staff committed to share detailed project lists and debt-repayment schedules with the council and to answer departmental follow-ups during departmental capital presentations in future hearings.","Capital budget manager Mason Lavey told the committee the mayor's proposed 2026 capital program totals $232.6 million and includes $116 million of supported borrowing to fund street infrastructure, fleet modernization, facilities repairs and the Raise and Revive program.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6426332,"Grant-and-aid account set at $84 million; staff warn of canceled awards and legal injunctions",248,10529000,10777000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5886248-a592451887adcaa4c0f8c74c7c6c2bbb&start=10529&end=10777","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5886248-a592451887adcaa4c0f8c74c7c6c2bbb/thumbnail_10529000.jpg","/articles/6426332/Milwaukee/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Grant-and-aid-account-set-at-84-million-staff-warn-of-canceled-awards-and-legal-injunctions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6426332-1749267930220c9738928d840c282338/orig.mp4?Expires=1773190447&Signature=EO23YBNaCv~s7BKKovGR0aoUXoBYqB~lHOwn~Yo-4Iug6VeeBP~1NMgWe9jdb2JCtUajhD5sGXFxF0NfmvA-PEEpZxzsZijwyzEB--SQMZIyHtKFW~99lX8iWWJRoSZaGGjIzMpJr-1tK9uXUJeeKGJxxyCj6m6bOX-PbYRYjVAlVKokzOlwFTrGY8wFh1RODFonoNRYN3wWL6LXMWfoNYr9xbprbDYFYq9CLhVExLCjoTVvamDrDI-mdCLcA2iP3lye~-WlJ3RKYcMgKqYsPqedzdUziGGhJZXKsFKyRMngQWy8OfN2DVVrTocE5oB9Qpnm4MGhSCbKxeMDb~V~Lg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sarah Osborne, budget and fiscal policy manager, briefed the committee on the proposed 2026 grant-and-aid account, explaining what the authority covers and where the administration sees risk.

Osborne said the 2026 grant-and-aid estimate is about $84,000,000, including approximately $25,000,000 held as unallocated authority to allow for unexpected awards late in the year. She noted that some large awards that affected prior budgets are not counted again in 2026 because ARPA and other multi-year awards already accepted by the city are tracked separately and not re‑entered into the 2026 allowance.

Canceled awards and injunctions: The health department has seen some grants canceled and others constrained by litigation and injunctions; Osborne said the administration is not counting those canceled awards as revenue for 2026. Police and fire reported larger spending authority this year largely because carryover and previously accepted awards were being spent; Osborne said some departmental lists are larger this year because departments included awards already accepted or under contract.

Unallocated buffer and risk posture: Osborne told the committee the larger unallocated buffer in 2025 reflected a historically unusual series of late awards. Administration staff said they reduced that buffer in 2026 to more typical levels but still provided $25,000,000 as a prudent contingency for new or late federal and state grants. She and Budget Division staff said they were monitoring the federal grant environment and would report new risks and award cancellations to the council.

Ending: The committee asked for a detailed list of canceled grants, and staff agreed to provide the departments' expected grants schedule, a list of awards under injunction, and a short memo summarizing the relative exposure of departments to potential grant losses.","Budget staff presented the city's grant-and-aid operating account estimate for 2026 at about $84 million, including $25 million held unallocated as an authority buffer. Health department cancellations and pending injunctions create revenue risk; staff said ARPA awards previously accepted are not re-listed in the 2026 account.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council told $10 vehicle-registration increase would raise $2.75 million in 2026; Nov. 3 deadline affects timing

Sales tax growth helps pension payments; city plans $32.3M TSF withdrawal as other revenues rise modestly

City presents proposed $2.07 billion 2026 budget; pension costs and fee increases drive gap

Mayor's capital plan asks $232.6 million; borrowing to fund streets, fleet and facilities

Grant-and-aid account set at $84 million; staff warn of canceled awards and legal injunctions