The Waukesha City Finance Committee on Oct. 28 voted unanimously to recommend the Common Council adopt the 2026 operating budget with a total general fund of $84,127,448.

Committee members and staff described the budget’s revenue and expense makeup during the meeting, saying real-estate taxes and intergovernmental revenues provide the majority of general-fund revenue and that roughly half of expenses are related to public safety, including police, fire and building-inspection services.

Alderman Piper moved the committee recommendation; Alderperson Helenslavin seconded. The committee approved the recommendation by voice vote and will forward it to the council for final action.

The meeting included a separately debated amendment from Alderson Lempke to limit the top-tier increase for nonrepresented employees to 3% (the budget as presented included a 3.5% merit increase range). Lempke said the amendment was intended to reduce costs and send a message to residents about fiscal restraint. Lempke moved the amendment and it was seconded.

Committee members split along lines over the amendment. Tony, a city staff member who presented turnover data, said the city saw an increase in turnover in recent years and cited a 2024 turnover rate of about 14%, “which is about 75 positions.” He said the current rate is about 7.6%. Alderman Wignerson urged the committee to reject the amendment, saying nonrepresented employees perform leadership and administrative functions and that reducing their potential merit increases could worsen recruitment and retention.

After discussion, the committee voted on the amendment by voice vote; it failed 3-2. The committee then voted unanimously to recommend the full budget at the $84,127,448 general-fund level.

Committee discussion also touched on efforts to reduce costs in communications and publications. Staff said Parks, Recreation and Forestry is consolidating material formerly in a separate public-works publication into a single activity guide, an initiative staff estimated would save “tens of thousands of dollars”; staff also said a standalone workspace publication cost roughly $40,000–$45,000 per year and would be folded into the consolidated product going forward.

Staff described how the budget handles vacancies: the city budgets 100% of approved positions on the pay plan but projects about 1.5% unspent personnel in cash-flow projections; staff said turnover-related salary differences lowered the base payroll in preparing the 2026 budget. Staff also noted adjustments to employer-sponsored health insurance intended to benefit both employees and the city.

The committee set the budget recommendation for consideration by the Common Council at its first meeting in November.