Milwaukee County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Milwaukee County Finance Committee advances SEWRPC tax levy and rental car fee update to Nov. 5 budget adoption meeting

The Milwaukee County Committee on Finance-Budget voted 7-0 on Oct. 13 to recommend adoption of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission's 2027 property tax levy. By the same 7-0 vote, the committee recommended adoption of an ordinance updating rental car customer facility charges. Both items now head to the Nov. 5, 2026, Budget Adoption Meeting.

Those were the only votes recorded in the committee's recent budget sessions. The rest of the two-week stretch was taken up with presentations on the County Executive's 2027 Recommended Operating and Capital Budgets, on which the committee took no action. The meeting records summarized here did not include dollar figures for the recommended budgets or for the two items advanced.

Two items move to Nov. 5

The SEWRPC levy recommendation covers the 2027 property tax levy of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, a regional body. The second item is an ordinance update to rental car customer facility charges. Under the committee's action, both are recommendations to the full board at the Nov. 5 Budget Adoption Meeting, not final adoptions.

Department budget reviews draw no action

At the Oct. 13 meeting, the committee reviewed portions of the recommended budget and took no action on presentations from the Civil Air Patrol, Airport and related capital projects, Highways, Bridges, and Transportation Services, Fleet, Transit and Paratransit, Courts, the Medical Examiner, the Sheriff (including Criminal Justice Facility camera replacements), and the Community Reintegration Center.

On Oct. 14, the committee heard informational presentations on the 2027 recommended budgets for Pre-Trial Services, the District Attorney, Emergency Management, Human Resources, and Health and Human Services, along with capital budget projects for senior centers and a splash pad. No formal votes or budget approvals were taken. A separate Oct. 15 session reviewed additional components of the recommended operating and capital budgets, again with no substantive decisions.

An Oct. 12 meeting of the same committee consisted of presentations and discussions on the recommended budgets, with no substantive actions taken on any item.

Public hearing held; departmental reports postponed

The committee held a public hearing on the County Executive's 2027 Recommended Budget on Oct. 14. No action was taken on the proposal. The committee voted 7-0 to postpone receipt of requested departmental reports to Oct. 22, 2026.

A Oct. 16 committee meeting was listed on the agenda to receive the 2027 Recommended Operating Budget (26-700), the 2027 Recommended Capital Budget (26-700), the Budget Position Supplemental Report, and the Line Item Detail Report. Minutes for that meeting have not been published, so no outcome is available.

Mental Health Board agenda lists no items

The Milwaukee County Mental Health Board's Community Engagement Committee met Oct. 15. The agenda available for that meeting contained only procedural boilerplate and listed no specific discussion items or decisions; minutes have not been published.

Coming up

• **Oct. 22** — Milwaukee County Mental Health Board Finance Committee. The posted agenda contains only procedural boilerplate.
• **Oct. 22** — Milwaukee County Mental Health Board. The posted agenda contains only procedural boilerplate.
• **Oct. 23** — Commission on Aging, which is scheduled to discuss and act on 2027 Area Agency on Aging contract renewals and awards, including caregiver support for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, programming and meals for Spanish-speaking older adults, and Native American Elders' programming and meals. The commission will also review the Older Adult Housing and Homelessness Action Plan and the 2027 operating and capital budgets.
• **Oct. 26** — Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors annual public hearing on the 2027 Recommended Operating and Capital Budgets (File 26-700). Residents may testify in person, limited to two minutes per speaker, or submit written eComments. The agenda also lists a Report on Summons and Complaints (File 26-1) and a report regarding Notice of Claims (File 26-2).

All items above are drawn from official agendas and minutes; the linked documents are the authoritative record.

Milwaukee County Board authorizes up to $857.9M for Courthouse Complex; 2027 budget hearings open

The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 1 authorized capital funding for the Investing in Justice: Courthouse Complex project with a scope up to $857,948,000, voting 16-1. The vote sets an authorization ceiling for the project. It is not a record of money spent.

The same meeting produced decisions on housing money, a sheriff's transport contract, employee insurance and park cameras. Details below, followed by the county budget hearings scheduled over the next two weeks.

Courthouse Complex funding authorized

The Board authorized capital funding for the Courthouse Complex project (file WC0276) up to $857,948,000 on a 16-1 vote. The item was decided at the Oct. 1 Board meeting, according to official minutes.

Housing, transport contract and insurance

• The Board allocated $5 million in affordable housing funds for various projects, 17-0.
• The Board raised the Allied Universal Services secure transport contract cap from $3.3 million to $3.65 million, 17-0.
• The Board approved a MetLife insurance agreement for employees and retirees through 2029, 17-0.
• The Board adopted a 2026 Memorandum of Agreement with the Building & Construction Trades Council, 17-0.
• The Board approved 2026 Funds for the Arts (CAMPAC) funding allocations, 14-2.

Parks: license plate cameras, trail rules, easements

The Board adopted a resolution removing automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras from county park property, 16-0. The Committee on Parks and Culture had recommended the resolution 7-0 at its Sept. 29 meeting.

At that Sept. 29 meeting, the committee also:

• Approved 2026 CAMPAC funding allocations, 6-1.
• Approved ordinance amendments for Oak Leaf Trail safety, 6-1.
• Authorized a storm sewer easement with the City of Wauwatosa, 7-0.
• Granted two easements to American Transmission Company, 7-0.
• Adopted the 2026 Trails Network Plan Update, 7-0.
• Recommended an ordinance for law enforcement staging reporting, 7-0.

Appointments confirmed

The Parks and Culture Committee confirmed Neil Albrecht to the Library System Board of Trustees, 7-0. The Board of Supervisors confirmed appointments to the Aging and Disability Resource Center Governing Board, 16-0 on each vote.

Budget review begins

The Committee on Finance-Budget met Oct. 12 to receive a presentation and overview of the County Executive's 2027 recommended operating and capital budgets. The agenda listed the 2027 Recommended Operating and Capital Budgets (File 26-700), a capital project for Election Equipment Replacements (Project WI 022001), War Memorial Center projects including a freight elevator and exterior repairs, parks projects including the Lake Park Steel Arch Bridge and Mitchell Park Domes repairs, and zoo projects including Primate Building air conditioning and Zoofari Building roof and HVAC work. Minutes for that meeting had not been published as of Oct. 13, so no decisions from it are reported here.

Coming up

The Committee on Finance-Budget continues its review of the 2027 Recommended Operating and Capital Budgets (File 26-700) with meetings on Oct. 13, Oct. 14, Oct. 15 and Oct. 16. Agendas list reviews of transportation, public safety, court operations, the District Attorney's Office, Emergency Management, Human Resources, and Health and Human Services, along with capital projects at Mitchell International Airport, highway reconstruction on S. 76th Street, W. College Avenue and W. Silver Spring Drive, sanitary sewer repairs, Vel Phillips and Facilities West projects, Criminal Justice Facility systems, and a new splash pad at Wil-O-Way Underwood.

A public hearing on the 2027 Recommended Budget is scheduled for Oct. 14, covering both the recommended operating budget and the recommended capital budget, with a review of the budget position supplemental report and line item detail report.

The Oct. 13 agenda also lists a proposed amendment to Section 4.32 of the County Code regarding Airport rental car customer facility charges (File 26-695) and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission 2027 property tax levy certification (File 26-600).

The Milwaukee County Mental Health Board's Community Engagement Committee is scheduled for Oct. 15. The agenda provided contains only procedural boilerplate and lists no specific discussion items or decisions.

Milwaukee County capital plan reviewed, no action taken; upcoming mental health board meetings

The most recent substantive action in Milwaukee County government came from the Capital Improvements Committee, which approved its July minutes but took no action on the county's 2027-2031 capital plan. Other recent meetings were procedural only, and two mental health board meetings are scheduled for later this week.

Capital Improvements Committee

At its Aug. 12 meeting, the Capital Improvements Committee approved the minutes from its July 28, 2026 meeting by a vote of 7-0, with one abstention. The committee also discussed the 2027-2031 Capital Improvements Plan, including departmental requests and staff presentations, but took no action on the plan. A discussion of eComments also resulted in no action. No other substantive decisions were made.

Other recent meetings

Two other meetings took place in the past two weeks, both with no substantive decisions or discussions.

• **Milwaukee County Mental Health Board: Governance Committee** (Aug. 12): The agenda contained only standard administrative items, such as approval of minutes and future meeting scheduling. No rezonings, contracts, ordinances, fee changes, or public hearings were listed.
• **Paratransit Taxi Task Force** (Aug. 20): The agenda contained only the meeting header and a print timestamp, with no listed agenda items. No decisions or discussions were specified.

Coming up

Two Milwaukee County Mental Health Board meetings are scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026:

• **Milwaukee County Mental Health Board** – The board is scheduled to discuss and potentially act on matters related to mental health services in the county. The agenda is largely procedural, with no specific action items detailed.
• **Milwaukee County Mental Health Board: Finance Committee** – The agenda is procedural only, with no listed action items or specific topics.

Both meetings are open to the public. Residents seeking details on the capital improvements plan or mental health board items should consult the official agendas and minutes on the county's website.

Milwaukee County Board allocates $7.4M in opioid funds, $1M for housing

The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors approved several funding allocations at its July 30 meeting, including $7,457,592 in opioid settlement funds and $1,059,200 for housing in Oak Creek. The board also authorized a beer garden lease, created new staffing positions, and adopted resolutions on sheriff's reporting and election integrity.

County Board actions

All items passed with broad support unless noted. The board:

• Allocated $7,457,592 in Opioid Settlement Funds for FY27–FY29 projects (17-0).
• Allocated $1,059,200 in HOME funds to Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity for Oak Creek homes (17-0).
• Approved a lease and vendor permit for the Estabrook Park Beer Garden (14-3).
• Approved creation of 3.0 full-time equivalent positions for the Aging and Disability Resource Center (17-0).
• Adopted a resolution requiring quarterly Sheriff's Office reports on traffic stops and impoundments (17-0).
• Adopted a resolution affirming commitment to election integrity and support for election workers (17-0).
• Approved a multi-year agreement with Pitney Bowes Global Financial SVC LLC (17-0).
• Adopted the July 2026 appropriation transfer packet (17-0).

Other recent meetings

Capital Improvements Committee (July 28)

The committee approved the minutes from its August 19, 2025, meeting (5-0-2). Informational reports on the 2027–2031 Capital Improvements Plan and facility requests were discussed, but no actions were taken on those items.

Commission on Aging – Nutrition Council (July 28)

The Nutrition Council met to approve April meeting minutes and receive updates on the Dine Out Restaurants program (Rise and Grind, An Oxe Café, and Food Truck at MCHC) and on alternative sites for the McGovern Senior Center. No binding votes on new policies or expenditures were scheduled. Minutes have not yet been published.

Commission on Aging – Senior Center Committee (August 7)

The committee discussed development progress at Milwaukee County senior centers, a public-private partnership to sustain them, and the release of requests for proposals for social programming and meal site supervision for Spanish-speaking, Native American, and LGBT older adults. The meeting also included approval of June 5, 2026, minutes. No decisions were recorded; minutes are not yet published.

Coming up

• **Milwaukee County Mental Health Board – Governance Committee** (August 12): The agenda is procedural only, with no rezonings, contracts, ordinances, fee changes, or public hearings listed. Items include approval of minutes and future meeting scheduling.

Milwaukee County Board Allocates $7.4M in Opioid Settlement Funds and $1M for Housing

The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors approved $7,457,592 in opioid settlement funds for FY27-FY29 projects and $1,059,200 in HOME funds for Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity to build single-family homes in Oak Creek. Both measures passed 17-0 during the board's July 30 meeting.

County Board Actions

The board also approved a lease and vendor permit for ABC Estabrook Inc. to operate the Estabrook Park Beer Garden (14-3) and created 3.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions for the Aging and Disability Resource Center (17-0). The board adopted a resolution requiring quarterly Sheriff's Office reports on traffic stops and impoundments (17-0) and a resolution affirming commitment to election integrity and support for election workers (17-0). Additionally, the board approved a multi-year agreement with Pitney Bowes Global Financial SVC LLC (17-0) and adopted the July 2026 appropriation transfer packet (17-0).

Committee Recommendations

Prior to the full board meeting, several committees reviewed and recommended items for adoption.

The Committee on Community, Environment and Economic Development recommended the $1,059,200 HOME CHDO fund allocation to Greater Milwaukee Community Housing Development Corp (Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity) on July 20, passing 4 ayes to 1 excused.

The Committee on Finance recommended the Oak Creek housing funds (7-0) and the Estabrook Park Beer Garden lease (6-1) on July 23. The committee also approved a professional services contract for Walker Square Park Improvements via passive review, recommended the July 2026 appropriation transfer packet (7-0), the Pitney Bowes agreement (7-0), funding to expand the expedited options counseling team within the ADRC (7-0), purchase of service contracts and amendments for Housing Services (7-0), and ordinance updates to County Code Chapters 17, 32, and 56 (7-0).

The Committee on Intergovernmental Relations recommended the adoption of confirmation for Milwaukee County Youth Commissioners on July 24 (5-0).

The Capital Improvements Committee approved its August 19, 2025, meeting minutes on July 28 (5-0-2) and discussed informational reports on the 2027-2031 Capital Improvements Plan, taking no action on those items.

Other Meetings

The Committee on Judiciary, Law Enforcement and General Services met July 21 to consider the opioid settlement fund allocation and the Sheriff's Office traffic stop reports, though minutes are not yet published. The Cultural, Artistic & Musical Programming Advisory Council met the same day to consider funding applications for Cornerstone, Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 organizations. The Nutrition Council of the Milwaukee County Commission on Aging met July 28 to approve April meeting minutes and receive updates on the Dine Out Restaurants program, including Rise and Grind, An Oxe Café, and Food Truck at MCHC, as well as alternate sites for the McGovern Senior Center.

Coming Up

The Commission on Aging will meet on August 7 to discuss development progress at Milwaukee County senior centers and a public-private partnership to sustain them. The body will also discuss requests for proposals for social programming and meal site supervision for Spanish speaking, Native American, and LGBT older adults, and will consider approval of the June 5, 2026, meeting minutes.

County committees approve new Aging and Disability Resource Center positions, beer garden lease, and renewable facilities resolution

Milwaukee County's Personnel Committee approved the creation of three full-time positions for the Aging and Disability Resource Center on July 16, the most direct service impact among recent committee actions. All motions passed 3-0, with one supervisor excused.

Personnel Committee actions

The committee also approved the abolition of a 1.0 FTE Engineering Technician Surveyor position and the creation of a 1.0 FTE Engineer position (3-0). It approved the reallocation of Personnel Review Board Member 112 (3-0) and an amendment to employee health and dental premium sections of the County Code (3-0). A proposed crew-leader pay increase ordinance was laid over to the chair (3-0). Informational reports on courthouse security, Dayforce consolidation, and INFOR ERP feasibility were discussed with no action taken.

Parks and Culture Committee

On July 14, the Committee on Parks and Culture recommended adoption of a lease and vendor permit for the Estabrook Park Beer Garden (7-0). The committee also recommended adoption of an amendment to General Ordinance Chapter 13, covering partnership guidelines (7-0). An informational report on water depths at McKinley Beach and Bender Boat Launch was discussed without action.

Climate and Economic Equity Advisory Board

The City-County Advisory Board on Climate and Economic Equity approved a resolution regarding potential locations for large scale renewable facilities on July 6 (9-0). The board also approved draft minutes from its January 27, 2026 meeting (7-0). Other items were discussed as informational reports with no action taken.

Committee on Audit

On July 13, the Committee on Audit recommended adoption of an ordinance to amend and renumber sections of the Milwaukee County Code of General Ordinances in Chapters 32 and 56 (5-0, with one recusal). Several informational reports on audit status and training were discussed without action.

Meetings held without published minutes

The Committee on Transportation and Transit met July 15 to review an audit report on Milwaukee County Transit System governance (item 26-499) and consider a related resolution. The agenda also included a feasibility report on a countywide INFOR ERP system transition (item 26-519), a Title VI equity and fare equity analysis (item 26-493), an informational report on the 2027 MCTS Bus Network Redesign Initiative (item 26-546), and a transportation budget report (item 26-23). Minutes have not yet been published.

The Commission on Aging Wellness Committee met July 15 with minutes pending. The agenda listed approval of March 18, 2026 minutes, introduction of new member Gail Morgan, a presentation on Milwaukee County Stroke Data (2020-2025), and discussion on age-friendly access to festivals and public venues.

The Committee on Health Equity, Human Needs and Strategic Planning met July 16 to review four appointments: Patricia Wilson, Judith Miller, and Michelle Scott to the Aging and Disability Resource Center Governing Board, and Maxine May to the Milwaukee County Commission on Aging. An informational report on Housing Services purchase of service contracts and amendments (File 26-539) was also listed. Minutes are not yet available.

Coming up

• **July 20 — Committee on Community, Environment and Economic Development:** Will review a request to authorize $1,059,200 in HOME funds to Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity for single-family homes in Oak Creek, plus a fiscal impact report on the Investing in Justice: Courthouse Complex project and a resolution for a contingent November 3, 2026 referendum on courthouse funding.
• **July 21 — Committee on Judiciary, Law Enforcement and General Services:** Will consider a proposal to allocate $7,457,592 in opioid settlement funds for FY27-FY29, plus resolutions on quarterly Sheriff's Office traffic stop reports and election integrity.
• **July 21 — Cultural, Artistic & Musical Programming Advisory Council:** Virtual meeting to consider funding applications for Cornerstone, Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cultural organizations.
• **July 23 — Committee on Finance:** Will review the $7,457,592 opioid settlement allocation, the $1,059,200 HOME funds for Oak Creek housing, the Estabrook Park Beer Garden lease, and the 2027 operating budget planning process.