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Finance committee holds long-term road-financing report until administration provides final document
Summary
A report required by a 2025 budget amendment on sustainable funding to address Milwaukee’s local road backlog was not available at the May 29 committee meeting; members held the item to the call of the chair and expect the report after the May 31 deadline.
Alderman Peter Bergellis introduced a communication from the mayor and the Department of Public Works asking the administration to produce a long-term, sustainable financing strategy for local roads, as called for in a 2025 budget amendment. The report was due May 31.
Bergellis said the 2024 budget included $18 million for local road improvements, and the mayor’s original 2025 recommendation was $12 million before the council restored $18 million via veto override. He said the need exceeds $18 million annually and that the budget amendment requires the administration to deliver a realistic funding plan to address the backlog.
Council staff told the committee the report was finished but not yet distributed to council members, and the administration requested the item be held until the next cycle so the city engineer and other staff can appear and answer questions. Council members voted to hold the communication to the call of the chair; Alderman Bergellis and Alderman Speicher spoke in support of holding the item so members can review the report and that the city engineer appear when available.
Why it matters: Council members said Milwaukee’s backlog of local roads in poor condition exceeds the current annual allocation and that a plan is needed to scope costs and choices for sustainable funding.
What’s next: Committee members expect the administration to deliver the report by May 31 and to place the item on the next Finance and Personnel Committee agenda for public deliberation with the city engineer and relevant staff present.
