Summary
Milwaukee Common Council adopts 2026 budget with fee changes, departmental moves, and housing investments
MilwaukeeNov 7, 20256 min read
At a glance
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On November 7, 2025 the Milwaukee Common Council adopted the 2026 city budget as amended, approved multiple 2026 fees and charge resolutions, created/adjusted departmental authorities and special funds, and moved funds to a new Milwaukee Homebuyer Fund.
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LaborTransportationBudget & TaxPublic SafetyEducationHealthcareCommerceEnvironmentalHousingUtilities
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Key decisions
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- Adopted the 2026 City of Milwaukee budget as amended. Final totals reported by Ald. Dimitrijevic: Total budget $2,075,687,722; property-tax levy supported budget $1,590,795,667; tax levy $336,820,871; tax rate 7.64.
- Approved a substitute ordinance establishing the 2026 vehicle registration fee (Substitute 2) and adopted multiple 2026 fee/charge resolutions, including Street Lighting Fee (after reconsideration), Local Sewerage Charge, Solid Waste Charge, Storm Water ERU/Rate, Snow & Ice Removal Cost Recovery Charge, and the extra garbage cart fee.
- Adopted resolution to transfer funds for the Down Payment Assistance Program to a new Milwaukee Homebuyer Fund capital account administered by the Department of City Development (File 251187).
- Added position authority and funding in the Common Council-City Clerk for a Policy and Administration Coordinator and increased operating funding for Eviction Free MKE by $100,000.
- Restored Sunday hours staffing at two branch libraries and expanded Sunday hours to two additional branches mid-year; inserted a Library footnote requiring quarterly reports on usage, circulation, programming and engagement.
- Provided funding in the Wages Supplement special purpose account to support a 3% wage increase for general city employees and increased the residency incentive from 3% to 4%.
- Created or authorized new departmental actions: moved the Office of Equity and Inclusion out of the Department of Administration to create a Department of Equity and Inclusion (Amendment 4); moved the Office of Community Wellness and Safety into a new Department of Community Wellness and Safety and added funding to a related special fund (Amendment 11B).
- Established multiple new/adjusted special funds and capital changes, including a Safety and Civic Commission Special Fund and $103,867 of general obligation borrowing for City Channel 25 cameras; created/seeded a Milwaukee Homebuyer/Homeowners fund via transfers from existing affordable housing accounts.
- Approved staffing and program additions: added one Associate Planner in DCD, created an Office of Youth Engagement in the Common Council-City Clerk with 2 positions for 9 months, authorized an Administrative Services Coordinator in the Common Council-City Clerk, and directed DPW-Infrastructure to create an in-house sidewalk repair crew.
- Inserted numerous footnotes directing departmental studies and reporting (examples: Comptroller fund balance policy and monthly special fund reporting; Budget Director notice on vehicle registration fee changes; DPW tasks related to streetcar fare collection planning, tree-planting request option in MKE Mobile app, alley plowing pilot, and streetlight circuit replacement plans; Port reporting and transit connections to South Shore Cruise Dock).
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Meeting information
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COMMON COUNCIL
Nov 7, 2025, 12:00 AMCommon Council Chamberscheduled
BUDGET ADOPTION
Agenda
- PAGE BREAK
- THE FINANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REFERS WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION:
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Substitute resolution relating to the transfer of funds for the Down Payment Assistance Program to a new Milwaukee Homebuyer Fund capital account administered by the Department of City Development.
- Resolution relating to the adoption of the proposed 2026 budget for the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee.
- A substitute ordinance to make uniform the rates of pay of offices and positions in the City Service.
- A substitute ordinance determining the offices and positions in the various departments, bureaus, boards and commissions in the City Service under control of the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee.
- Substitute resolution establishing the 2026 Street Lighting Fee.
- Substitute resolution establishing the 2026 Local Sewerage Charge.
- Substitute resolution establishing the 2026 Solid Waste Charge.
- Substitute resolution establishing the 2026 Equivalent Residential Unit and 2026 Equivalent Residential Unit Rate used in calculation of the Storm Water Management Charge.
- PAGE BREAK
- A substitute ordinance relating to the fee charged for an extra garbage cart.
- A substitute ordinance establishing the 2026 vehicle registration fee.
- Substitute resolution establishing the 2026 Snow and Ice Removal Cost Recovery Charge.
- A substitute ordinance relating to increasing various fees for permits, licenses, certificates, inspections and approvals.
- A charter ordinance relating to implementation of various provisions of the 2026 budget.
- An ordinance relating to implementation of various provisions of the 2026 budget.
- Resolution relating to implementation of various provisions of the 2026 budget.
- Substitute resolution authorizing a payment from the 2025 Transportation Fund to the 2026 Debt Service Fund to pay principal and interest for various parking projects.
- Substitute resolution relative to establishing the rate of taxation for 2026 budget purposes as computed by the Commissioner of Assessments of the City of Milwaukee.
- Substitute resolution authorizing a further Tax Stabilization Fund withdrawal for 2026 as permitted by Sub-Section 4(c) and (d) of Section 304-29 of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances.
- PAGE BREAK
- PLACING ON FILE THE FOLLOWING:
- Communication from the Milwaukee Public Schools relating to the tax levy for the City of Milwaukee.
- Communication from the Wisconsin Division of Transportation Investment Management relating to the 2025 General Transportation Aids and Connecting Highway Aids Estimates.
- Communication from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue relating to the Revised Estimated 2025 and the 2026 Shared Revenue and Expenditure Restraint.
- Communication from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue relating to state aid payments due to exempted business computers from being subject to property taxes.
- Communication relating to the Capital Improvements Committee’s recommendations for the Mayor’s proposed 2026 executive budget.
- Communication relating to public comments on the Mayor's Proposed Executive Budget for 2026.
- The meeting was called to order at 9:29 a.m.
- The Pledge of Allegiance was said followed by silent invocation.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Announcements were made.
- Hearing no other business the meeting adjourned at 3:58 p.m. Chris Lee, Staff Assistant Council Records Section City Clerk's Office
- This meeting can be viewed in its entirety through the City's Legislative Research Center at http://milwaukee.legistar.com/calendar.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2026 budget.
- Substitute resolution establishing the 2026 Street Lighting Fee.
- Substitute resolution establishing the 2026 Street Lighting Fee.
- A substitute ordinance establishing the 2026 vehicle registration fee.
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