Milwaukee County finance committee approves grants, contracts, transfers and bond authorizations in January session

The Milwaukee County Committee on Finance on Jan. 29 approved a slate of resolutions, contract awards and budget transfers, including authority to accept state American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for courthouse security and the Forensic Science Center, authorization to apply for a federal RAISE (now called BUILD) grant for transit improvements on North–South 27th Street, multiple procurement and contract items and an initial bond authorization for 2025 capital projects.

Committee members voted unanimously on the measures that required formal action. The session included presentations from the medical examiner, the courts, transit and county budget staff and discussion—some substantive—about the process for administering county compensation changes and how several capital projects will be financed.

The most notable approvals included authorization to accept $6,250,000 in additional ARPA funds from the state (including a courthouse security allocation and additional money for the Forensic Science Center), formal approval to pursue up to $25 million in federal BUILD/RAISE grant money for bus shelters and transit priority along the Purple Line corridor, and an initial authorizing bond resolution for a not-to-exceed $195.8 million in 2025 bond or note issuances to finance adopted capital projects.

Medical examiner contract and drug testing outreach Karen DeMigalski, operations manager for the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office, and Greg Wallace, director of toxicology, briefed the committee on an agreement with the City of Milwaukee Health Department tied to a federal grant for rapid testing of recovered drugs found at death scenes where no crime is alleged. Wallace said the testing is intended to quickly identify substances and cutting agents found in pills and powders and to share findings with community-level outreach and mapping partners.

Supervisor Rolland moved adoption of the agreement; the committee voted 7–0 to recommend approval.

Family Treatment Court enhancement grant Rebecca Foley Kramer and staff described a retroactive application to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) for a Family Treatment Court Enhancement Grant focused on expanding supervised parenting time and evidence-based parent coaching. County staff said there is no county match required and that the grant will fund external evaluation by the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

Supervisor Rolland moved adoption; the committee voted 7–0 to recommend approval.

Commissary contract and revenues Chantelle Jewell, superintendent of the Community Reintegration Center, presented a proposed two-year purchase-of-service contract (with three one-year extensions) with Union Supply Group to provide commissary services at the Community Reintegration Center and Milwaukee County Jail. Fiscal estimates presented by Mike Bickerstaff showed projected revenue of roughly $525,000 for the CRC and $320,000 for the sheriff’s office under the contract.

Vice Chair Supervisor Steve Taylor moved adoption; the committee voted 7–0 to recommend approval.

Purple Line (North–South 27th Street) RAISE/BUILD grant application David Logan, manager of enhanced transit for the Milwaukee County Transit System, and Anthony Geiger of the Department of Transportation described a federal grant application under the program…