Green Bay mayor pitches 2026 budget focusing on core services, seeks state help and local sales-tax option
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Summary
Mayor delivered an overview of the recommended 2026 budget centered on public safety, infrastructure and data-driven improvements; proposed modest levy increase and a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment, and raised the possibility of a local sales tax subject to referendum.
Mayor (name not specified) presented the city of Green Bay's recommended 2026 budget on behalf of his administration, saying the plan prioritizes "core services here in the city of Green Bay" such as public safety, public works and parks. He told the finance committee the plan includes a 3.4% levy increase that translates to about a 3% mill-rate increase and estimated it would cost an owner of a $250,000 home roughly $60 per year under the proposed rate.
The mayor emphasized reliance on increased state shared revenue and proposed exploring a local sales-tax option subject to voter approval. He used the county's half-cent example as a model, saying a county half-cent has generated roughly $40 million this year and that a city share could be about 40% of that amount. "You think about what roughly 40% of that might be... that's almost exactly what we are borrowing or asking to borrow in 2026," he said.
Key personnel and program items highlighted in the mayor's presentation include: a proposed 2.5% COLA for city employees, an addition of a financial/data analyst for the fire department, and a proposal to create three community service officer (CSO) positions to in-source City Hall security and create a pipeline into public safety roles. The mayor said department heads and finance staff produced the budget after extensive work and thanked Director Alan Becker and assistant director Jose for their roles in assembling the plan.
The mayor and committee members also discussed the city's property valuations and revaluation timing. The mayor cautioned that rising property values have affected the tax rate on an equalized basis and noted the state requires revaluation when values drift more than about 10% from parity. He said shared revenue increases from the state and municipal-service payments are part of the revenue improvements built into the plan.
Committee members asked clarifying questions on personnel and compensation. The mayor confirmed the COLA was 2.5% and said staff will use turnover assumptions where appropriate to manage budget impacts. When asked about the mechanics of a local sales tax, he said the county's half-cent was the comparator and that the Department of Revenue could provide a city-specific estimate of what a half-cent would raise locally.
What happens next: the committee approved departmental sections and advanced the budget items reviewed; the full Common Council will consider adoption and final votes in subsequent meetings.