Summary

Milwaukee Common Council adopts 2026 budget with fee changes, departmental moves, and housing investments

MilwaukeeNov 7, 20256 min read

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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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COMMON COUNCIL

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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.

Milwaukee Common Council adopts 2026 budget with fee changes, departmental moves, and housing investments

At a glance

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