West Milwaukee board adopts 2026 budget; mill rate unchanged

The West Milwaukee Village Board approved its Calendar Year 2026 budget and capital improvement plan and adopted the tax levy during its Dec. 1 meeting, keeping the mill rate at 23.63, Administrator Kim Egan said.

Administrator Kim Egan gave the budget overview at the public hearing, telling the board that the school credit had changed slightly and the sales tax credit dropped; after credits the levy is about $0.18 higher per $1,000 of assessed value, which she described as a minimal increase on tax bills. The board opened and closed the public hearing during the meeting.

Trustee Ragonese moved and Trustee Schuettke seconded the “Resolution Determining the Tax Levy” (09R-25); the resolution passed on a roll call vote with all members recorded as voting in favor. The board then adopted the “Resolution Authorizing Adoption of the Calendar Year 2026 Budget and Capital Improvement Plan” (10-R-25) on a unanimous roll call.

During the finance portion of the meeting the board also approved commercial vouchers and payroll: checks numbered 35071–35079 totaling $197,204.03 were approved by motion, and later checks 35097–35131 totaling $321,830.41 were approved; the biweekly payroll dated Nov. 28, 2025, for $131,532.69 and the October 2025 Treasurer’s Report were also approved.

The transcript does not specify the total dollar amount of the adopted 2026 budget or detailed line-item changes beyond the credits described by Administrator Egan. The board did not record any amendments to the budget during the meeting.

The Village Board is scheduled to meet next on Dec. 15 for additional public hearings and on Jan. 5, 2026.