Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors adopted the 2027 budget and property tax levy on Nov. 5, 2026 after votes on several amendments — including a parks lighting capital project, a failed proposal to raise GLP-1 copays for non‑diabetic employees, and a unanimously approved requirement that the budget office explain a $4.6 million calculation error.
Discussion Points
•Board and finance committee described adopted changes including funding for senior meals, paratransit and other programs incorporated into a committee 'super amendment'.
•Error approximated at $4.6 million undermined trust and required full public accounting.
•Opponents cited bonding cap, skipped projects and precedence concerns.
•Opponents said the change could penalize preventive care, create legal exposure and harm recruitment and retention.
•Roll calls covered digest balances, individual amendment outcomes and the final budget adoption.
•Sponsor said project moves 138 fixtures into four parks (Kazi, McGovern, Noyes and Pulaski) and would save $42,000/year in operations.
•Sponsors argued GLP‑1s are a major cost driver and that raising copays for non‑diabetics would save about $1.15M.
•Sponsors requested timeline, cause, and remedial safeguards; potential comptroller audit if report insufficient.
Decisions
•Adopt Amendment 11 and include project in the capital improvement plan.
•Adopt amendment requiring detailed accounting; append report to budget materials.
•Adopt the 2027 budget as amended; adopt the property tax levy.
•Do not adopt the GLP‑1 copay amendment (motion failed).
•See individual actions above.
Directions
•Budget office to prepare public accounting report on the calculation error and append it to the budget.
•Budget office to produce report in January; supervisors demanded notice protocols for future material errors.
•Department of Parks to program the approved capital project and provide schedule/cost details.
•Request HR and benefits staff to perform a comprehensive review of prescription management, pricing and legal risk outside the rushed budget vote.
Public hearing on Milwaukee County Executive's 2027 recommended budget featuring extensive public testimony on transit funding, parks capital needs, Health Connections clinic funding, farmers market match, climate office staffing, museum collections, and mental health/group-home concerns.
Discussion Points
•Advocated renewable energy procurement and building retrofits.
•Advocates asked for a dedicated, permanent transit funding source beyond reserves.
•Calls to create a dedicated parks funding stream to address a $400M deferred-maintenance backlog.
•Office of Sustainability 2027 operating request cited as $823,000 compared with 2026 expenditures of $961,000.
•Program importance for food access and local economies.
•Requests to avoid paid parking and privatization as primary solutions.
•Speakers asked to adopt County Executive's 2027 budget without cuts to MCTS.
•Speakers cited $240,000,000+ storm damages as justification to increase climate funding and staff.
•Speakers urged $400,000 operating support for Health Connections to preserve services after clinic closures.
•Support and continuation of $100,000 Milwaukee Market Match funding to preserve 14 market access points.
•Support for $30M capital parks plan across 28 projects.
•Testimony linked the request to public-health, racial-equity and emergency-cost avoidance arguments.
The Milwaukee County Finance Committee considered four budget amendments tied to the 2027 recommended budget, approving four amendments that make targeted investments in transit, parks, human services and employee benefits while directing studies on court commissioner pay and marina options. Members set deadlines for final amendment submissions and reminded the public of a budget hearing at the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Discussion Points
•Chairwoman Nicholson Bovell said the amendment reduces the levy and restores several service priorities; she described revenue offsets and program investments.
•Committee voted to recommend four amendments affecting budget priorities and processes.
•Staff said removing a group from prescription drug coverage would require full contract renegotiation.
•Supervisor O'Connor sought site-specific crime data linked to camera locations.
•Supervisors asked about out‑of‑county users and state navigable waters restrictions.
•Taylor cited $50M estimate for dock replacement; Guy Smith said annual net revenue is ~$2M.
•Taylor described multiple projects overlapping at Bender Park and longer procurement timelines than expected.
•Taylor noted prior request reductions and requested a data‑driven report on pay and turnover.
Decisions
•Amendments 1,2 and 4 recommended 6‑0; amendment 3 recommended 5‑1 and will proceed to the board.
•Committee recommended adoption of amendment number 1 (6‑0)
•Committee recommended adoption of amendment number 2 (6‑0)
•Committee recommended adoption of amendment number 3 (5‑1)
•Committee recommended adoption of amendment number 4 (6‑0)
•Informational — no vote recorded on policy change
Directions
•Administration to continue exploring health benefit options but flagged contract renegotiation constraints.
•Clerk of Courts, Chief Judge, and Human Resources to provide a report on compensation and turnover.
•Departments to coordinate and set procurement/timeline benchmarks.
•Parks to gather usage/residency data and consult Wisconsin DNR; staff to evaluate partnership and funding options.
•Sheriff to prepare March report on camera location selection and supporting data; supervisors to submit additional questions.
•Sheriff to report in March on camera location decisions and data
Milwaukee County Committee on Finance met to review portions of the executive'recommended 2027 budget, including presentations from the Office of Strategy, Budget and Performance; the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) including IMSD; and the Register of Deeds. Presentations highlighted grant wins, capital projects including the IJCC courthouse work, staffing pressures, AI/data governance plans, and modest revenue increases in the Register of Deeds office.
Discussion Points
•County expects to share forensic building operating costs about 50/50 with the state; $1.7M is an initial operational estimate.
•Forensic science facility completion under budget; deferred maintenance backlog; IJCC a major ongoing project; staffing and recruitment challenges.
•IMSD to recruit data governance lead; automation and AI use will be risk\u0002assessed; security budget increased; personnel and central chargeback changes.
•Register of Deeds budget is cost to continue; $98,000 expected revenue increase; no staffing changes anticipated.
•SBP linked strategy, budgeting and performance; highlighted grant wins and ARPA closeout work.
Public hearing of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors Committee on Finance and Budget on the County Executive's 2027 recommended budget; testimony focused on pay compression for courthouse public safety officers and transit service cuts; committee postponed a request for written informational reports to Oct. 22 and will continue hearings tomorrow at 9 a.m.
Discussion Points
•Chair scheduled continuation of the hearing for the following morning.
•Long‑tenured courthouse public safety officers earn less than some recent hires and some rely on public assistance.
•Milwaukee Area Labor Council warned of potential 25% MCTS service cuts and quantified possible workplace access losses.
•Multiple supervisors and the chair agreed more time was needed for departments to prepare full responses to previously raised questions.
•Public safety officers testified about low pay and pay compression; administrators proposed a $50,000 budget allocation to address equity.
•Staff to attach e‑comments to the record when received.
•Supervisors pressed administration for a substantive response and distribution plan.
•Supervisors questioned whether $50,000 would be sufficient and requested an HR informational report outlining distribution.
•The committee opted to set a date certain for follow‑up rather than proceed without full information.
•The council urged the county to prioritize transportation funding in the 2027 budget.
Decisions
•Adjournment for the evening.
•Administration included $50,000 in recommended 2027 budget to address pay compression (informational; not an approved policy change).
•Motion to postpone adopted (7‑0).
Directions
•Administration/HR to prepare informational report describing distribution approach.
•Committee to reconvene at 9 a.m. for day four.
•HR to prepare an informational item early next year detailing how any pay‑equity funds would be distributed.
•Item 2 to be heard on Oct. 22, 2026; staff to compile outstanding responses.
Milwaukee County Finance Committee (Day 3) heard departmental budget presentations covering pretrial services, the district attorneys office, emergency management, human resources, non-departmental expenditures and Health & Human Services. Presenters outlined service statistics, staffing and funding pressures and answered supervisors questions about capacity, technology and program cuts.
Discussion Points
•Administration cited utilization increases and drug-price inflation as main drivers and proposed incremental cost levers.
•Comptroller data show prescription-drug spending rising from ~$23.5M (2022) to a budgeted ~$47.5M (2027).
•DA presented Axon supplemental request due to a surge in video evidence.
•Department requested follow-up cost breakdowns to show how to expand capacity.
•DHHS included an assumed $1,000 juvenile corrections per-diem in the budget but warned a $3,000 rate without state subsidy could create ~ $6M exposure.
•DHHS proposed eliminating or reducing non-mandated community mental-health programs and cutting $500,000 from Credible Messengers (outreach/response team).
•GPS capacity capped at 150 due to staffing constraints.
•OEM described new facility co-located with ME and state crime lab and improved logistic capabilities.
•OEM flagged 9-1-1 staffing and turnover; supervisors asked how departmental damage surveys are reported to OEM.
•OEM reported not receiving FEMA public assistance for recent floods and a >$100,000 radio-tower repair absorbed by OEM.
•Office reported state carrying 12.5 prosecutor positions temporarily through June 30, 2027.
•Pretrial services presented program operations and outcomes (appearance and rearrest rates).
•Supervisors asked about license-plate reader technology and data governance.
•Supervisors requested a rapid follow-up with specific options and savings estimates.
•Supervisors requested breakdowns, cautioned on service impacts, and asked DHHS to pursue alternatives and further discussions with partners.
Milwaukee County Finance Committee continued 2027 budget hearings covering transportation, airports, courts, public safety and corrections; the committee advanced the SEWRPC levy certification and an airport rental-car facility charge ordinance to the full county board.
Discussion Points
•Capital needs (boiler, chillers, roof and generator) and operating budget changes driven by revenue loss and inflationary cost increases.
•Chief Judge argued commissioner pay is uncompetitive and recruiting has declined; he requested $450,000 to address pay disparities.
•Committee asked clarifying questions; no further conditions were attached.
•Committee moved and voted to recommend the ordinance to the county board.
•Comptroller estimate of a ~$4.3M overtime deficit for 2026.
•CRC accreditation and performance metrics (reentry completion and recidivism rates).
•DeCorso requested $12,500 for utilities and maintenance, citing roof and aging volunteer base as primary challenges.
•Drancic explained the need for flexibility to fund rental-car center modernization and maintenance.
•Fee and prepayment policy changes to reduce outstanding funeral home receivables.
•McKay described Vision 2060 update, TIP maintenance and SEDS economic development strategy.
•Move into new forensic science center and associated technology upgrades.
•One-time county funding proposal for 2027 versus a projected 2028 deficit of $18–20M without sustainable state funding.
•Operational improvements (overtime reduction, fare compliance, fleet additions).
•Paul DeCorso described CAP missions, partnerships with MPS and community groups, and equipment gains.
•Request for $150,000 to begin replacing park cameras; department will supply total replacement cost estimate.
•Request for security director to consolidate contraband prevention, K-9 oversight and emergency preparedness.
•SEDS purpose to maintain EDA grant eligibility and outreach to local governments.
•Supervisors asked for HR analysis, asked to know where prior dollars for vacant positions went, and debated statutory authority and process between clerk and judiciary.
•TIP updates and their role in preserving federal funding eligibility.
•Vision 2060 update timeline and public outreach plans.
Decisions
•Budget preserves staffing; capital requests included for review during budget adoption process.
•Item 6 recommended for adoption
•Item recommended for adoption and forwarded to county board on Nov. 5
•No immediate appropriation; committee requested follow-up materials and possible amendment action.
•No immediate appropriation; committee requested further HR review and possible amendments during the October amendment cycle.
Directions
•Agency will continue advocacy for long-term funding and proceed with network redesign.
•Prepare final ordinance language for Nov. 5 county board meeting.
•Provide additional capital project details and continue recruitment efforts; explore options for state revenue replacement.
•Provide overtime breakdown by driver (vacancies, sick time, FMLA, special events).
•Return with HR-reviewed options, narrower proposals (e.g., targeted raises for lower-tier commissioners), and data on vacancies and departures.
•Supply full cost estimate to replace removed park cameras and recommended priority sites.
A meeting of the Milwaukee County Commission on Persons with Disabilities covered a guest proposal for an "age-friendly" event designation, accessibility problems at large festivals and county capital projects, procedural questions about holding a closed-session chair vote, connectivity and public‑comment access problems, and approval of previous meeting minutes before adjourning.
Discussion Points
•Behar proposed a voluntary age‑friendly designation for events and venues.
•Commissioners suggested partnerships, vendor options for mobility/charging, and aligning with existing accommodations at festivals.
•Difficulty locating charging stations and flagging mobility assistance at Summerfest and other festivals.
•Possibility of volunteer-run golf-cart shuttles and need to confirm cart capacity and driver training.
•Public difficulty locating Teams link and missing posted meeting videos.
•Staff explained posting on county legislative information center and offered troubleshooting.
•Technical Teams breakout-room assignments and virtual access complicate immediate private voting.
•Whether a chair vote that takes place in closed session must be listed on the agenda in advance.
Decisions
•Chair vote postponed to next properly noticed meeting.
Directions
•Explore partnerships (United Spinal Association, festival operators) and pilot mobility support at events.
•Post closed-session language on next agenda or schedule a special closed meeting; staff to explore poll option limited to commissioners.
•Staff and interested commissioners to explore partners and compare proposal with current festival practices.
•Staff to confirm posting of past meeting videos and ensure joining info is placed on future agendas.
Morning session of the Milwaukee County Committee on Finance (day 1 of 4) opened with a Research Services overview of the County Executive's 2027 recommended budget and proceeded through departmental presentations covering the countywide budget, debt service, non‑departmental revenues, employee benefits, cultural contributions, parks, zoo, and several other agency budgets.
Discussion Points
•$12.1M of the $22.1M debt service reserve draw is allocated to preserve transit service in 2027.
•County will carry prorated funding and is negotiating a termination agreement to govern transition costs.
•Dependent coverage age change from 27 to 26 (align with ACA) projected to save ~$600,000.
•Failure to implement revenue plan could force closure of pools and splash pads and operations cuts.
•FSA county match increase from $1,000 to $1,500; $900,000 proposed to continue employee health clinics post‑ARPA.
•MPM legal transition to a new nonprofit on 05/01/2027; county owns current building and collections.
•Parks faces $887,000 levy reduction and proposes paid parking pilot (net $671,000) plus fee increases to meet reduction.
•Repeated reliance on reserve draws could harm bond ratings and future budgets.
•Research Services identified five drivers shaping the 2027 budget: a $50.8M structural gap, transit funding shortfalls, Sheriff overtime, workforce/benefit cost increases, and capital/debt needs.
•Sheriff overtime is a recurring, significant driver of budget deficits.
•Staffing vacancies (63 positions) contribute to reliance on overtime.
Directions
•Committee to follow up with Sheriff’s office in departmental hearings.
•EDRIS and the museum to finalize a termination agreement and return to the board with a transfer request for any necessary funding.
•HR to provide clinic utilization data and metrics for evaluation.
•OGA and the board should prioritize state and federal advocacy for transit funding.
•Parks to provide an ordered list of service reductions keyed to partial revenue scenarios.
Milwaukee County Board meeting where County Executive David Crowley delivered the 2027 recommended budget and the board approved an amended authorization and resolution for the Investing in Justice courthouse complex, alongside votes on parks, utility easements and removal of ALPR camera equipment.
Discussion Points
•2% across-the-board raise for employees
•Capital allocations for Mitchell Park Domes and playgrounds
•Committee testimony alleging mistreatment in parks
•Compensation versus litigation trade-offs
•Legal limits via Public Service Commission eminent-domain proceedings
•Need for state support to reduce local tax burden
•Need to balance public safety and Fourth Amendment rights
•Paid parking pilot to avoid park cuts
•Project cost growth and deferred maintenance
•Trade-offs between building investment and other county services
•Use of $12M debt service reserve to sustain transit through 2027
•Whether 'large-scale users' language could accommodate data centers
Decisions
•Adopt easements and accept negotiated compensation
•Adopt resolution authorizing capital funding and urge state participation
•Adopt resolution directing removal of Flock/ALPR equipment
•Recommend one-time $12M draw to preserve transit service through 2027
Directions
•County to pursue state funding and refine financing plan
•Finance committee will hold department presentations starting Oct. 12; public hearing Oct. 26
•Government relations to seek clarifying information from utilities and PSC
•Parks to coordinate removal and explore alternative safety measures
Milwaukee County's Parks and Culture Committee met Sept. 29, 2026. Members confirmed a county executive appointee to the federated library board, approved arts grant allocations, adopted a trail speed-limit ordinance (including an amendment to study high-powered "eMoto" devices), advanced reporting rules for law-enforcement staging in parks after public testimony about ICE activity, approved several easements, heard long-range trail and parking-revenue plans, and passed a resolution removing ALPR/Flock equipment while allowing closed-loop video systems under strict controls.
Discussion Points
•Appointment presented by county executive representative; appointee highlighted library services and prior civic experience.
•Bike Fed and frequent cyclists warned a blanket limit could affect legitimate training and events.
•CAMPAC's updated funding formula and categories (cornerstone, tier 2, tier 1, impact awards).
•Committee debated narrow vendor ban vs. preserving investigatory capability; adopted an amendment to allow closed-loop county-controlled cameras under strict rules.
•Multiple supervisors pressed for exemptions for events and clarity about applying limit to human-powered cyclists.
•No applicants applied for tier 1; distribution includes a new $2,000 impact award for social cohesion.
•Parks staff proposed uniform 15 mph limit to address speed differentials and eMoto devices.
•Pilot would be seasonal and digital (QR/text), avoid permanent meters and aim to return revenue to the paying locations.
•Plan built with TAP grant and ARPA match; includes public engagement and prioritization across subareas.
•Public testimony cited misuse, immigration enforcement links, and vendor misrepresentations.
•Public testimony described a June 29 Mitchell Park incident with alleged detentions and traumatic scenes.
•Recommendations include crossings priority list, wayfinding, soft-surface recreation areas and e-bike considerations.
•Resolution creates a mechanism to collect community-submitted evidence, including affidavits, when internal documentation is lacking.
•Sheriff cited homicide and other investigations aided by photographic ALPR/video tools and presented tightened safeguards.
•Supervisors asked for resident/nonresident distinctions, exemptions, and neighborhood sensitivities along Lincoln Memorial Drive.
Decisions
•Adopted resolution removing Flock/ALPR from parks and authorizing exploration of closed-loop county camera options; directed follow-up reports.
•Adopted; staff directed to operationalize reporting process.
•Committee recommended adoption as presented; distribution to proceed.
•Committee recommended confirmation by unanimous vote.
•Informational report accepted; no adopted policy or budget appropriation yet.
•Ordinance language adopted as amended; amendment to study eMotor devices passed; staff to return by December.
•Plan adopted; staff to pursue grants guided by the plan.
Directions
•Adopt plan as amendment to 2050 plan and use for grant eligibility and budgeting.
•County counsel/IMSD to draft audit and retention protocols (48-hour retention proposed).
•Parks and counsel to implement an intake/reporting repository and work with sheriff/emergency management on procedures.
•Parks to include pilot in the 2027 budget submission and consult neighborhoods before implementation.
•Parks to prioritize education, targeted signage at pinch points, and return with proposed ordinance language.
•Parks to study eMoto regulatory options and parental/age restrictions.
•Sheriff and county IT to develop procurement options for non-ALPR, closed-loop video systems and to outline funding sources for 2027 budget.
Intergovernmental Relations Committee (Milwaukee County) met to adopt a resolution urging the Wisconsin congressional delegation to protect federal transit funding in the Build America 250 bill and received an informational report on legislative and Medicaid-related federal rule changes that county staff said could put thousands of residents at risk of losing coverage.
Discussion Points
•County comment letter submitted on 2 CFR part 200; implementation date delayed to Dec. 11 under the continuing resolution.
•County DHHS to run trainings, provider outreach, resource fairs and walk-in Medicaid days to help residents.
•Director Lamers said Build America 250 includes an approximately 14% reduction in transit funding and estimated local impacts.
•District attorney workload formula under state review; county tracking of state study committees.
•Motion to recommend adoption of transit funding resolution (item 1) and associated cosponsorship interest.
•No e-comments were submitted for item 3; item 2 was informational.
•State DHS estimate ~60,000 Wisconsinites at immediate risk of losing BadgerCare Plus in early 2027; Milwaukee County estimate ~20,000 residents affected and ~$4.2M BHSS revenue loss.
•Supervisors asked for the HR number and cosponsorship instructions.
Decisions
•Committee recommended adoption of the resolution (5–0).
•Informational only; no committee action taken.
•No formal committee action; item was informational only.
•Resolution recommended for adoption (5–0).
Directions
•DHHS to provide newsletter language and event dates to supervisors and to continue updates to committee.
•Staff to continue monitoring and update the committee as timelines evolve.
•Staff to distribute HR number, outreach materials and event dates to supervisors.
•Staff to share HR number and distribute materials to supervisors
•Supervisors instructed to sign cosponsorship through county clerk's office.
Committee on Community, Environment and Economic Development 09/24/2026
The Milwaukee County finance committee authorized $857,948,000 in capital funding for the Investing in Justice Courthouse Complex after debate and two amendments; the vote passed 5–2 following public testimony from judges, mayors, law enforcement and service providers.
Discussion Points
•Administration proposes $857,948,000 authorization against $896 million total budget; $38.63M previously funded.
•Debate over timing: delay could provide budget clarity but risks inflation and higher costs; administration estimated $3–4M per month cost of delay.
•Ethical and confidentiality concerns for attorneys and clients due to lack of private spaces.
•How to allocate savings from removing the east entry, and whether to reserve funds for jail upgrades.
•Need to replace century‑old Public Safety Building due to safety, accessibility, deferred maintenance; estimated $300 million in deferred maintenance noted.
•Requests for additional reporting on operating budget interactions and long‑range debt service modeling.
•Safety risks from in‑custody transports through public areas and inadequate jury deliberation conditions.
•Use of cash vs. bonding to limit property‑tax impact; an illustrative schedule of GMPs and major construction packages.
•Whether to delay the decision until December for budget clarity vs. avoiding inflation cost increases.
Decisions
•Amendment removing east glass entry adopted (6–1).
•Item adopted as amended by finance committee (5–2).
•Layover failed; amendment passed 6–1; item adopted as amended 5–2.
•Layover motion failed; committee proceeded to amendment votes.
•Motion to lay over failed (2–5).
Directions
•Administration to continue community engagement and communications; facilities and budget staff to be involved in planning and maintenance planning.
•Administration to continue to produce refined bond/cash modeling and to discuss communications strategy around tax impacts.
•Amendment adopted; administration to bring back list if jail‑reserve option is used.
•If amendment reserving jail funds passes, administration to return by July 2027 with list of bondable jail projects.
•Incorporate private client meeting rooms, separate circulation, ADA and language access in design.
Milwaukee County committees heard a request to authorize up to $857,948,000 in capital funding for the Investing in Justice Courthouse Complex (IJCC). The finance committee recommended the project as amended after debate over costs, tax impacts, community engagement and two competing amendments.
Discussion Points
•Administration described building failures, deferred maintenance (~$300M+), safety risks from shared public corridors and transports, and a projected total project budget of roughly $896M.
•Administration described prior outreach, a project website and communications work with Miller Communications.
•Multiple public‑safety officials and legal community leaders urged supervisors to move forward with replacement and modernization.
•Schematic design aimed for early 2027; demolition anticipated in 2028; move management and service relocation will drive outreach needs.
•Some supervisors argued to wait for state budget signals; others warned delay increases construction cost risk.
•Speakers described safety and dignity concerns for victims, jurors and staff, and operational inefficiencies that lengthen case processing times.
•Supervisors asked for itemized backing for the administration's $3–4M/month delay estimate and for clarity on how bonding will affect property tax levy levels.
•Supervisors pressed on tax impacts, monthly cost of delay ($3–4M estimate), and whether the project could be delayed until state budget clarity.
Decisions
•Finance committee recommended authorization to proceed with $857,948,000 as amended (remove east glass entry).
•Motion to lay over failed; committee proceeded to amendment votes.
Directions
•Administration to continue community outreach and be transparent about tax impacts and scheduling if the project is approved.
•Administration to provide further fiscal detail and continue community outreach if project advances.
•Administration to return with regular updates, refined renderings and bond packaging schedule; facilities/operations to be involved in planning for long‑term maintenance.
•If adopted by the board, administration will negotiate guaranteed maximum prices with construction manager at risk and proceed with phased GMPs.
•If the project proceeds, administration and designers should prioritize secure movement pathways, private meeting spaces for victims and juror comfort, and problem‑solving court capacity.
Committee heard an update on independent redistricting preparations, debated a proposed county board code of conduct (resulting in a tie recommendation), reviewed contracting and procurement controls, received a briefing on the jails tablet program, and was briefed on a labor settlement over hospital-watch overtime and litigation updates.
Discussion Points
•Arbitrator found liability in rotation methodology; settlement offers financial premium to deputies for hospital-watch runs until COs can assume responsibilities.
•Bellwether cases selected; county not chosen; evidentiary hearing converted to status and date set for Jan. 27, 2027.
•County engaging with ACLU to consider amendments to a decades-old consent decree with an eye toward updated, concrete terms and potential sunsetting.
•County uses a semi-centralized model; departments own contract lifecycle; central partners set controls and review higher-risk procurements.
•Key controls include AMOP 15.01 amendments, multiple signatories and model contract provisions.
•Monitoring uses keywords and a deputy funded by tablet revenues; IMSD addressed a separate laptop misuse vulnerability.
•OCC recommends earlier municipal clerk and stakeholder involvement before initial map-drawing; consider diversifying the independent committee; retain Sewer Pack as technical map-drawer; aim to finalize recommendations by Dec 2026 or early 2027.
•Settlement does not concede that the work is core deputy bargaining-unit work; it is a negotiated workaround tied to staffing thresholds.
•Sponsor framed the ordinance as a tool to preserve decorum and respect in meetings; critics argued it reaches beyond meetings into private communications and could be weaponized politically.
•Tablets operate on a closed network, are not paid with tax dollars, and offer free legal and educational modules; paid features include messaging and downloads.
Decisions
•Committee produced a tied vote and sent the item to the full board with no recommendation.
•Committee voted to receive and place the informational report on file and forward it to the full board.
•Informational briefing accepted; no committee action.
•Informational only; no committee action.
•Informational report only; settlement materials appended to file.
Milwaukee County Committee on Personnel met in the Milwaukee County Courthouse to consider personnel actions including zoo and parks staffing changes, fleet mechanic reclassifications and pay adjustments, extensions to interim HR leadership, insurance and wellness contract renewals, health-plan design options, and an annual pension contribution report.
Discussion Points
•Recruitment challenges for heavy-duty mechanics; need for pay competitiveness; staffing affects airport and snow-season readiness.
•Restructure elevates oversight of the family farm and ambassador animal programs; aligns with AZA standards.
•Revision simplifies prior sliding-scale proposal to a flat $2 differential; used across Parks, Sheriff's Department, and OEM; intended as temporary differential rather than new permanent title.
Decisions
•Committee recommended adoption, 4-0
•Recommended for adoption, 4-0
Directions
•Department to post positions at adjusted pay ranges and consider internal training/laddering.
•Parks to manage fiscal impact within existing operating budget.
Committee on Transportation and Transit met to consider reappointments, multiple roadway ordinance changes in Brown Deer/Milwaukee (speed limit, renaming, parking), several informational reports (fuel costs, MCTS Forward bus-redesign concepts, targeted-business participation), and grant/functional-classification items; the MCTS Forward presentation and public comment drew extended debate about a proposed 25% service reduction scenario.
Discussion Points
•Departments must manage fuel budgets and may reduce nonessential operations; winter operations could materially affect final overrun.
•DOT described property impacts (residential, commercial, small condo complex) and village outreach/stipend assistance.
•DOT held two public information meetings and mailed residents; village of Brown Deer supported the change.
•DOT retained parking where residents have driveway access; utilization studies indicated low usage.
•Lucas highlighted Rowlett’s two decades of experience and Sherman Park residence.
•May and June contract and TBE participation totals presented; data-capture and certification changes affect subgroup results.
•MCTS applied for $5,600,000; local match of $1,120,000 required; projects include transit signal priority expansion and paratransit software modernization.
•Office noted plans to bring DBE goal-setting back online in late year.
•Projected MCTS deficit of ~$15M in 2027 rising to ~$37M by 2031; concepts would use 25% less service.
•Recent bulk purchases reported at $5.63/gal diesel and $3.62/gal unleaded, above 2026 budgets.
•Ridership concept increases residents near frequent service (30%→51%) but reduces total residents near any service (82%→70%); coverage concept preserves near-any-service share but reduces frequency (frequent share 30%→16%) and lowers average job access (coverage -37%).
•Supervisors and public raised equity, paratransit, safety, and outreach concerns.
Decisions
•Committee received report and placed on file 5–0.
•Committee recommended adoption 5–0.
•Committee recommended authorization 5–0.
•Committee recommended confirmation 5–0.
•Informational only; no committee action beyond Q&A.
•No decisions made; informational and engagement phase only.
Directions
•Departments to coordinate with Office of Budget Strategy and Performance on potential adjustments.
•DOT to coordinate address-change logistics with village and USPS.
•DOT to review packet wording and correct any incorrect current-speed references.
•If awarded, MCTS will return with identified projects and associated costs before executing an agreement.
•MCTS to hold at least five open houses and 20+ engagements and return summary in December; final choices dependent on November–December budget process.
Milwaukee County Board Committee on Audit received the countywide audit packet from external auditors Baker Tilly, who reported an unmodified opinion and no material weaknesses; the committee also reviewed follow-ups on the cash handling audit, launched an online dashboard for open recommendations, and considered a proposed five-year countywide audit contract with TBE participation commitments.
Discussion Points
•Auditors recommended continuing to expedite the financial close process; issuance occurred on July 27 this year.
•Baker Tilly committed 20% TBE participation; committee members asked about local Milwaukee firms and subcontractor choice.
•Baker Tilly presented an unmodified audit opinion and described no material weaknesses for 2025.
•Combined six-year maximum (including optional year) presented as $2,389,770; countywide audit portion described as just over $2,000,000.
•Dashboard filters and tabs: open reports, recommendations, recommendations with latest comments, and archived reports back to 2012.
•Five recommendations were made; three closed, two remain open (department updates; third-party vendor evaluation).
•No public comments were recorded via the legislative information center at the start of the meeting.
•No sampled area fully met GFOA recommended cash-handling elements.
•Office will update dashboard after each follow-up report (approx. every six months).
•RFP considered six proposals; Baker Tilly scored highest.
Decisions
•Meeting adjourned; next meeting scheduled for 11/30/2026 at 3 p.m.
Milwaukee County elections staff presented the county canvas for the 2026 partisan primary, reporting about 36% turnout and several technical irregularities (including misassigned express-vote selections for Ward 316) that were removed from the tally; the canvass summary was accepted and staff prepared certification documents ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
Discussion Points
•15 provisional ballots issued on election day; one cured in Ward 223.
•Auditors reviewed five wards and found no variance between paper ballots and reported totals.
•Ballot proof available; order of about 750,000 pieces of paper to print for Nov. 3.
•County counts registered write-ins for certification; municipalities handle unregistered write-ins.
•County removed those selections from the tally during canvass and will work with city to change programming or media handling.
•ExpressVote pick list included Ward 316 option though no physical ballots were assigned there.
•No motion or roll-call vote on certification is recorded in transcript.
•Staff hopes to send proofs earlier to the printer; board offered to reconvene if necessary.
•Staff said canvass materials are ready to be signed and scanned for state and local records.
•Turnout reported at about 36% for the partisan primary.
Decisions
•Canvass materials ready for signature (action documented by staff statement).
•Canvass ready for certification and signatures (no roll-call recorded in transcript).
Directions
•Elections staff to coordinate with city on remedy (programming or media burn).
•Staff to proceed with signature collection and scanning of state copy.
Meeting to commence canvass of the Aug. 11 partisan primary, review turnout figures and designate wards for voluntary post-election audits; board set a certification target by the 21st and recessed to continue canvass.
Discussion Points
•Board noted certification deadline and discussed reconvening date
•Chair directed recess to begin canvass; staff noted certification deadline and scheduling options
•Elections official presented unofficial night results and turnout figures
•Staff described wards selected for a voluntary audit and the audit's purpose
Decisions
•Proceed with scheduled audits during canvass
•Recess to allow canvass; reconvene before certification deadline
•Recess to commence canvass; reconvene to certify by the 21st (target)
Directions
•Audit to be performed during canvas; staff to report results
•Board recessed to allow canvass to proceed and will reconvene to certify
•Staff to complete canvass and prepare certification materials; board to reconvene
