County Executive Crowley presents 2026 recommended budget, cites $46 million shortfall and $12 million levy proposal

County Executive Crowley on Sept. 30 presented Milwaukee County’s recommended 2026 budget to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, saying the county faces a projected $46,000,000 shortfall and proposing a mix of new revenues, spending choices and an approximate $12,000,000 increase in the property tax levy.

"My 2026 recommended budget strives to foster a stronger Milwaukee County through fiscal sustainability," County Executive Crowley said, outlining revenue changes, program investments and capital spending included in the plan.

Crowley said the county expects to generate about $192,000,000 in sales tax revenue in 2026 as a result of shared-revenue changes enacted in Wisconsin Act 12, and that the 2026 levy is roughly $25,000,000 lower than it would have been without that reform. Despite those gains, Crowley told supervisors the county still faces rising costs for state-mandated services, reduced federal funding and growing deferred maintenance that together drive the projected $46 million structural gap.

To address the shortfall, the recommended budget includes a roughly $12 million increase in the property tax levy, additional and redirected revenues, and spending reductions and efficiencies. Crowley said a primary driver of levy pressure is higher debt-service payments tied to recent and ongoing capital projects, including the forensic science and protective medicine facility in Wauwatosa and the Nature and Culture Museum of Wisconsin currently under construction.

The plan directs new investments in health and human services, housing and public safety. Crowley proposes new positions within the Department of Health and Human Services for child support services, youth residential care and housing-intervention work; continued funding for housing choice vouchers that serve more than 1,800 tenants annually; and $500,000 for flexible rental assistance to help vulnerable residents remain housed. Crowley also said a change in the state biennial budget will reduce the county’s costs for administering youth corrections by more than $6,000,000 annually beginning in 2026.

On transit, the executive directed $9,000,000 in transit-specific ARPA funds to the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) for 2026, and said MCTS is projected to utilize about $20,000,000 of ARPA funds by the end of the year. Crowley warned those federal funds will largely run out after 2026 and said MCTS will pursue “rightsizing” that could include route changes and fare adjustments. The recommended budget also proposes a transit-security pilot in partnership with the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office that would deploy deputies on targeted routes.

Crowley highlighted capital investments across parks and county facilities: more than $13,000,000 for 11 Milwaukee County Parks capital projects, continued support for Mitchell Park Domes redevelopment (including a previously approved $5,000,000 allocation), and a proposed capital program totaling approximately $108,000,000 for items such as a new front entrance at the Milwaukee County Zoo, repairs at senior centers and 10 transportation infrastructure projects.

A centerpiece of next year’s capital plan is the proposed Investing in Justice Courthouse Complex project. Crowley requested nearly $16,000,000 for redevelopment of courthouse facilities and said the nearly 100-year-old public safety building is responsible for about half of the county’s deferred maintenance. He warned that further delay would increase costs and jeopardize future state funding tied to previously negotiated changes.

The recommended budget includes a modest 1% across-the-board pay increase for Milwaukee County employees. Crowley also cited continued funding for the Office of Emergency Management, including the county’s text-to-911 capability; he said the service recently aided the safe rescue of three people after a small-plane crash on Lake Michigan.

Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson received the recommendation and said the board will refer the 2026 budget to the Finance Committee for review. The board’s public hearing on the county budget is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27 at the Domes; the board’s review timeline begins Oct. 9 with a presentation from the comptroller’s research division and concludes Oct. 31 with committee recommendations to the full board.

Votes at a glance: the board or its officers took several routine actions during the Sept. 30 meeting. Supervisor Shea moved and the board approved receiving and placing on file the listing of summons and complaints; by unanimous consent the September 30 listing of notice of claims was disallowed; the September 18 journal of proceedings was adopted; several routine files were received and placed on file; and Supervisor Shea moved to adjourn the meeting until Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. at the Domes.