Committee reviewed five‑year financial projection, updated surplus property and procurement policies and recommended them to council

City finance staff presented an updated five‑year operating projection and several policy updates to the Waukesha City Finance Committee on Sept. 30.

Finance Director Joe Shiro told the committee the forecast covers the general operating fund for 2025–2029. Staff estimate 2025 general fund revenues to be just over $84 million and projected steady, modest property tax growth tied to net new construction (about 1% in 2026 and roughly 1% thereafter). Shiro said the city assumes moderate intergovernmental and other revenue growth but that personnel costs (which make up roughly 75–80% of the operating budget) are projected to grow faster—largely because of existing collective‑bargaining contracts for police and fire that run through 2028. With those assumptions, staff showed expenses overtaking revenues beginning around 2027 and outlined a financial management plan to remain two years ahead of projected deficits.

Separately, the committee reviewed proposed amendments to the disposition of surplus property policy (F‑15). Staff recommended adding real estate to the policy, clarifying sale processes, and raising the council approval threshold for surplus sales from $10,000 to $25,000 to align with existing purchasing policy thresholds. Committee members asked clarifying questions about accepting the "highest possible consideration" and whether the city should specify acceptance only from a "responsible bidder"; staff said the existing language allows consideration beyond money (including goodwill) and that clarifying language could be added if desired. The committee voted unanimously to recommend the amended F‑15 policy to the council.

The committee also recommended updates to the purchasing and bidding policy (F‑6) to align statutory public construction thresholds with state law, clarify procurement roles and emergency procurement language, and set procedures for fleet purchases. Staff indicated that an operational procedures manual will follow any policy adoption. The committee recommended these revisions unanimously.

Staff alerted members to the next steps in the budget calendar: staff aim to release the operating and capital budget documents in early to mid‑October, with department presentations scheduled for Oct. 14 and Oct. 16 and follow‑up meetings later in the month.

The committee's recommendations will go to the common council for final action.