Governor-elect David Crowley knew about a $4.56 million error in Milwaukee County’s proposed 2027 budget before Election Day
During a post-election interview, Crowley was directly asked whether he knew about the budget discrepancy before the November 3 election. “We knew about this, yes,” Crowley responded. Crowley maintained that his administration delayed notifying supervisors to investigate the problem and develop solutions. He insisted the disclosure’s timing was coincidental. Crowley claims the announcement came out so it aligned with the County Board’s scheduled budget meeting.
County officials discovered the discrepancy on October 21, nearly two weeks before election day. Despite identifying the problem before voters cast their ballots, the administration did not notify the County Board until November 4, just one day after Crowley’s victory and less than 24 hours before supervisors were scheduled to approve the county’s approximately $1.5 billion budget. (RELATED: Alfonso Wins Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, Defeating Clark)
The deficit originated from an automated budgeting formula that incorrectly reversed positive and negative signs on two airport-related financial entries, producing $4.56 million in projected savings that did not exist. County Budget Director Nicholas Sinram said that his department discovered the mistake weeks earlier. When questioned about who decided to delay informing supervisors, Sinram stated, “The decision was mine.”
County Board Finance Committee Chairman Steve Taylor criticized the administration’s explanation. Taylor argued supervisors should have received immediate notification rather than learning about the discrepancy after the election. The delayed disclosure also created concerns about the integrity of the budget review process.
Supervisors spent much of October examining the administration’s proposed spending plan without knowing that millions in anticipated savings were incorrectly calculated. Despite those concerns, the County Board ultimately approved the amended 2027 budget by a 17-1 vote on November 5. (RELATED: David Crowley Wins Wisconsin Governor’s Race, Defeating Republican Tom Tiffany)
The Crowley administration has proposed fixing the error through additional prescription drug rebates, unused capital project funds and departmental savings. However, those potential funding sources have not been fully secured or verified.
Supervisor Leevan Roundtree Jr. cast the lone dissenting vote. He questioned the decision to approve a budget without a verified plan to cover the discrepancy. “I cannot in good conscience vote for a budget that is missing $4.56 million,” said Supervisor Leevan D. Roundtree Jr. “That is my own standard of accountability.”
