Recently, Milwaukee residents are being asked to pay more, with the city’s budget projecting to triple by 2031.
The Milwaukee Comptroller’s Office just released a 5 year forecast that projects the city’s structural deficit will triple by 2031. The county’s projected deficit for next year is set to reach more than $50 million, with the gap expected to widen to $168.7 million in five years.
This month, the Milwaukee Public School Board approved a revised $1.6 billion budget, even as student proficiency remains at an alarmingly low rate. The district reported that from 4k to third grade, it was reported that 97,414 children’s English language proficiency remained below 25%, while chronic absenteeism reached 47.5%. The new budget adds more classroom staff, and reduced central office positions. (RELATED: Wisconsin DOR Seizes Minocqua Brewing Beer Amid Tax Investigation)
In a 2024 report of governmental fund expenditures, Milwaukee spent $1.445 billion in 2024, up from $1.285 billion in 2023. The report also showed that expenditures exceeded revenues by $41 million before other financing sources helped offset the gap. In the General Fund, expenditures rose $82 million from 2023 to 2024, including a $44 million increase in general government spending and a $48 million increase in public safety spending.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s 2026 budget presentation acknowledged that the city began with a gap of more than $100 million, one of the largest gaps Milwaukee has ever faced. To close these gaps, the mayor has proposed withdrawal from the city’s reserves, a 3% property tax levy increase, and an increase of $10 to the city’s vehicle registration fee.
County Supervisor Shawn Rolland, member of the county’s finance committee, weighed in on the deficit. “The good news is that we have a track record of being able to solve this,” he told the Journal Sentinel. “Bad news is that there are fewer easy levers to pull to close the gap.”
The stressed budget has been felt by the Milwaukee Police Department, who has been dealing with a staffing crisis and disputes with city leaders about contracts. “The police are so shorthanded, it’s almost impossible to deal with this chaos,” said State Rep Bob Donovan. Rep. Donovan also pointed to the prolonged absence of a labor agreement as a major deterrent to rebuilding MPD ranks. (RELATED:Bangstad Misses Wisconsin Governor Ballot After WEC Rejects Signatures)
In 2018, he warned, “The number of officers we have currently working our streets in Milwaukee is inadequate for the levels of crime and disorder,” criticizing budget cuts that fueled longer response times.
