Steve Heazer, director of the Milwaukee County Federated Library System (MCFLS), told the Committee on Finance and Budget that the countywide library consortium supports 15 public libraries across Milwaukee County and asked supervisors to sustain the system’s operating allocation and consider a requested $20,000 special project to expand library access inside county correctional facilities.

Heazer told the committee that MCFLS operates a countywide delivery network that moves roughly 1,000,000 items among libraries each year, typically within 24–48 hours, and that county residents can access nearly 2,000,000 unique titles and about 4,000,000 physical volumes plus thousands of digital materials through Wisconsin’s digital library. "Each year roughly 1,000,000 items are delivered among libraries, most within 24 to 48 hours," Heazer said. "Residents can access nearly 2,000,000 titles and 4,000,000 physical volumes, plus thousands of digital materials through Wisconsin's digital library."

Heazer described partnerships with workforce agencies and online learning platforms that deliver job training and continuing‑education resources to residents. He said MCFLS supports new and ongoing programs to supply updated library and legal materials to the County’s Community Reintegration Center, the juvenile justice center and the county jail. To support that work, Heazer said MCFLS submitted a special project request for $20,000 through the Racial Equity Budget Tool aimed at expanding library and legal materials in those facilities. He asked the committee to sustain the recommended 2026 system funding of $66,650 and to support the additional $20,000 project request.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the special project during the hearing; no county appropriation was approved at that time.

What’s next: Supervisors will consider the 2026 budget recommendations during the county process; MCFLS will await action on the special project request.