Council hears 2026 operating plan and budget for Downtown West Allis Business Improvement District
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Summary
Economic development staff and BID leadership presented the Downtown West Allis BID’s 2026 operating plan and a proposed budget roughly unchanged from 2025; staff said the bid serves about 90 businesses, reported low vacancy and several large events, and listed priorities including economic mix, downtown image and walkability.
The West Allis Common Council heard a presentation on the 2026 operating plan and budget for the Downtown West Allis Business Improvement District (BID).
Carson Caulfield of the city’s economic development office presented the BID’s accomplishments and priorities. He said the BID covers roughly the downtown from 76th to 70th streets and extends a half-block north and south, includes about 90 businesses and reported a 2% vacancy rate. Caulfield said the BID and the city secured a Robert Wood Foundation grant in partnership with Main Street and that West Allis was one of three Wisconsin cities to receive the award.
Caulfield highlighted recent events and visitor tracking: he said the latest car show brought approximately 4,500 visitors and the a la carte event drew just under 13,000, using a Placer AI tracking tool. He summarized the BID’s priorities for 2026 as growing economic mix and vitality, improving downtown image, expanding outreach to residents and schools for volunteers and sponsorships, and supporting walkability and bikeability.
Caulfield presented the BID’s proposed 2026 budget as essentially unchanged from 2025, with a proposed total budget of about $146,600 and a proposed levy of about $129,000. He said the total assessed value for the BID area was roughly $22.5 million and calculated the assessment rate as 5.73 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.
Council members offered positive remarks about downtown work and ribbon cuttings. Alderman Grisham specifically thanked Diane and Emily for BID efforts; Caulfield noted Emily, the BID executive director, was present for questions. No public objections were recorded during the hearing and the BID’s operating plan and assessment method were presented to the council for consideration; the transcript records the public hearing closing but not a final roll-call adoption in that segment.
Clarifying record items: BID area boundaries as described by staff; approximately 90 businesses; proposed 2026 budget $146,600 (presenter’s figure), proposed levy $129,000, assessed value approximately $22,500,000, assessment rate 5.73¢ per $1,000. Visitor figures cited are staff estimates using a private tracking tool; Caulfield characterized Wisconsin as “one of two states in the entire country” to receive a related award (attributed to his statement).
