Waukesha Parks board recommends flat 2026 operating budget, forwards proposal to finance committee

The City of Waukesha Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board unanimously recommended the department’s proposed 2026 executive operating budget to the Finance Committee after a detailed staff presentation on efficiency measures, special revenue funds and program revenue initiatives.

Board members discussed the budget at a regularly scheduled Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board meeting where department staff walked the board through the plan and related projects. “We’re gonna walk you through the operating budget. It sounds big, and it is, but we’ll try to make it not so painful for you,” Ron (staff member) told the board as he opened the budget review.

The proposal is effectively flat overall: department staff described the general-fund portion of the budget as “status quo” and noted the operating levy request falls slightly, while the department is planning program and capital activity through special revenue funds and the CIP. Ron said the department met the city’s Financial Management Program requirements while keeping the overall proposed change near zero.

Why it matters: the department’s operating budget funds shelters, pools, seasonal programming, forestry operations and administrative staff. Staff emphasized steps intended to reduce reliance on tax levy funding while preserving services, including expanding self-supporting programs,…