County board OKs $95.2 million airport funding, affirms courthouse due-process policy and refers transit pilot back to committee

The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors on April 24 approved a series of actions, most notably a $95.2 million appropriation transfer to advance the General Mitchell International Airport international terminal project, adopted a resolution affirming due process and public access at the county courthouse complex, approved a county climate action plan and referred a proposed transportation network company (TNC) bus driver relief pilot back to committee for further study.

Board members voted first to authorize a large appropriation transfer for the airport project. The board approved an appropriation transfer to increase expenditure authority to $95,200,000 for capital project WA0221, the General Mitchell International Airport international terminal project. The item (file no. 25272) passed on a roll-call vote with 17 ayes and 1 no; Supervisor David Alexander cast the lone no vote.

The airport measure was followed by action on transit. The board considered adopted budget amendment 16, which had directed funding toward a TNC bus driver relief pilot program. Supervisor Pedro Martinez moved to refer that budget amendment back to both the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Transportation and Transit, saying, “So right now I would like to, make a motion to refer this back to committee not only to finance but also to transit.” The board voted to refer the item unanimously (18 ayes, 0 noes), so the pilot will receive additional committee review before any county implementation decisions.

On a matter of courthouse policy, the board adopted a resolution affirming Milwaukee County’s dedication to “justice, safety and access at the Milwaukee County Courthouse Complex” (file no. 25295). Supervisor Martinez and several colleagues emphasized due process during debate; Supervisor Martinez said, “Due process is a non negotiable in this country.” The resolution passed with 17 ayes and 1 abstention.

Other measures approved included: a retroactive amendment to a professional services agreement with 2 Story Creative Limited for advertising services (file no. 25248), which passed 17–1 after Supervisor Alexander said he would cast a protest vote against routine retroactive authorizations (“I'll be voting no on this item”); the board also approved the county’s climate action plan (file no. referenced in the committee report as Climate Action 02/1950) on a recorded vote (17 ayes, 1 no). The board recognized World Phillips Day (file no. 25221) and adopted a series of committee reports and citations.

What the votes mean next: the airport appropriation authorizes the county to align design funds and proceed into the construction phase of the terminal project as described in the department request. The transit pilot referral sends the TNC/bus driver relief questions back to committee for more detailed cost and implementation analysis; during floor remarks supervisors said existing estimates were incomplete and that additional discussions with Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS), the transit union and Finance staff were needed. The courthouse resolution is a board-level statement recommending coordinated action by the county executive, the courts and the sheriff to protect access and due process; it does not itself change court policy or sheriff protocols.

Meeting context and next steps: several supervisors urged additional committee-level review before the county implements policy changes that affect budgets or security at county facilities. The board adjourned and set its next regular meeting for noon on May 22, 2025.

Votes at a glance - Item 9 (file no. 25248): Retroactive amendment to professional services agreement with 2 Story Creative Limited — outcome: adopted, 17 ayes, 1 no (Supervisor Alexander said he would vote no). - Item 11 (file no. 25272): Appropriation transfer to increase expenditure authority to $95,200,000 for WA0221, General Mitchell International Airport International Terminal Project — outcome: adopted, 17 ayes, 1 no. - Item 12 (file no. 25270 / adopted budget amendment 16): Motion to not implement the TNC bus driver relief pilot program as directed in the 2025 adopted budget — board referred the matter back to Finance and Transit committees for further review, outcome: referred, 18 ayes, 0 noes. - Item 21 (file no. 25267 / budget amendment 19 informational report): Referred back to the Judiciary, Law Enforcement and General Services committee for further consideration. - Item 22 (file no. 25295): Resolution affirming Milwaukee County’s dedication to justice, safety and access at the Courthouse Complex — outcome: adopted, 17 ayes, 1 abstention. - Item 28 (file no. 25262): Approval of county climate action plan (listed in committee as Climate Action 02/1950) — outcome: adopted, 17 ayes, 1 no. - Item 29 (file no. 25221): Resolution recognizing Welt Phillips Day — outcome: adopted, 18 ayes, 0 noes.

Quotes in context - “I'll be voting no on this item,” Supervisor David Alexander said when explaining his protest vote on a retroactive advertising-services authorization. - “So right now I would like to, make a motion to refer this back to committee not only to finance but also to transit,” Supervisor Pedro Martinez said when moving to send the TNC/bus relief matter back to committee. - “Due process is a non negotiable in this country,” Supervisor Pedro Martinez said during debate on the courthouse resolution.

Reporting note: quotes and vote tallies are taken from the April 24, 2025 Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors meeting transcript and from roll-call statements read into the record on the floor.