Milwaukee, WI
Priorities set for the recommended 2025 Milwaukee County budget
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley laid out the plans for the recommended 2025 Milwaukee County budget, with a focus on “financial sustainability” to the tune of almost $1.4 billion dollars.
In the address on Tuesday, October 1, Crowley explained that residents would see a 2.8% property tax levy increase for a total of $8.2 million, and that this increase would be lower than the 2020 levels while maintaining key services to residents and without a hiring freeze to county employees. It would also include a 2% raise for county employees and direct $1.5 million toward compensation study adjustments for staff.
The recommended budget also includes $13 million in tax levy support for the Office of the Sheriff, the Community Reintegration Center, and Court Operations, representing an 11% tax levy funding boost. “These are investments across the entire public safety continuum to help us address rising overtime costs, enhance recruitment and retention, and maintain staffing in the courts and judicial facilities through the addition of 11 new full-time positions”, said Crowley.
He clarified that state law requires that the county carry out these mandated services, with the goal to continue working with law enforcement, the state, and federal partners to identify other revenue sources to keep up with the mandates.
Federal American Rescue Plan Act funding would be directed to the Milwaukee County Transit System, resulting in over $10 million to “maintain current route service levels, it will help us replace our aging bus fleet, and ensure that transit security remains throughout the MCTS,” said Crowley. He noted that the current ARPA funding will be spent down by 2027, and will result in MCTS facing a “fiscal cliff” that will need to be addressed sooner rather than later.
The Milwaukee County Parks would also receive $2.3 million in the recommended budget for park operations, including 10 new full-time positions to “support the increased recreational activity and business services that are taking place at these community assets, which help to generate revenue for our park programming,” said Crowley. The proposal would include $11 million for five capital projects across the park system that would include trail and amenity improvements for a better experience for residents.
The 2025 recommended Capital Budget includes $110 million for 54 projects in the county, with the biggest focus being a $6 million investment for the continued planning a new courthouse complex facility for the courts and other state-mandated services. This would be part of a multi-year project to create a functional and safe building to address the everyone who uses the facility.
“By 2028, Milwaukee County’s structural deficit was estimated to reach a total of $109 million,” said Crowley. “And at the same time, state-mandated services were and are still projected to continue growing and consuming more of Milwaukee County’s local tax levy. If nothing had changed, I would be standing here presenting a budget that includes massive cuts to programs and services that so many people rely on every single day.”
Crowley credits partnering with Governor Evers and the Wisconsin State Legislature on passing the bipartisan Wisconsin Act 12 “to reform the state’s local revenue sharing structure for the first time in over two decades… that allowed Milwaukee County to address a looming pension crisis with historic reforms, generate millions annually in new sales tax revenue, and secure additional shared revenue payments that will grow with economic activity.”
The full 2025 recommended budget is on the Milwaukee County Budget website. The Milwaukee County Board will review all of the recommendations in the budget proposal, with the goal to finalize the budget on November 7.
Milwaukee, WI
Leaders from Milwaukee Rep, local Jewish organization team up to support families in need
MILWAUKEE — For 31 years, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater has ended every performance of A Christmas Carol with a heartwarming tradition: cast members ask audience members for donations that are then given to a local charity.
Watch: Milwaukee Rep’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ raises donations for Jewish Family Services
Milwaukee Rep’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ raises donations for Jewish Family Services
This year’s chosen charity is Jewish Family Services, an organization that provides support to families in need throughout the community.
I was there when Jenny from the Rep and Jenny from Jewish Family Services celebrated the generosity of the community, which is providing gifts for families in need this holiday season.
Kidd O’Shea
Behind the scenes at Milwaukee Rep, volunteers were busy wrapping presents for their “A Christmas Carol Families” program. The initiative aligns perfectly with the theater’s mission of creating positive change in the community.
“This goes right to our mission of creating positive change in the community, and when we’re doing a play like A Christmas Carol, what better show to be able to use the themes from that production of generosity and compassion over greed to make sure that we’re walking the walk as well when we are saying, ‘Hey community, we should be doing this,’ right? So this is one example of how we can create that change in the community as well,” said Jenny from Milwaukee Rep.
The donations collected from theatergoers will make a significant impact for families served by Jewish Family Services, which has been operating since 1867.
“It’s going to make such a huge difference. These are families facing the harshest of circumstances. We’ve been in existence since 1867, but this year we have such extreme need from all the families we serve,” said Jenny from Jewish Family Services.
Even small contributions from audience members attending the beloved Milwaukee holiday tradition add up to meaningful support for local families.
“To everyone who went to see A Christmas Carol, which is such a holiday tradition here in Milwaukee, and made a donation — maybe it was just $1 or a couple bucks here and there — it all adds up and really is community showing up for community,” I said.
“We’re so grateful to have been chosen this year, and to align our missions like this with the Rep is just a community outpouring of support that is going to go directly to benefit some people who will be very grateful,” said Jenny from Jewish Family Services.
The longstanding tradition demonstrates how the theater continues to give back to Milwaukee, extending the spirit of the holiday classic beyond the stage and into the community.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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Thanks to generous viewers, TMJ4’s Home 4 the Holidays Virtual Food Drive raised more than $29,000 for Milwaukee’s Hunger Task Force — money that will help get food on tables this holiday season.
The donations came as the Hunger Task Force reports a 35% increase in traffic at local pantry networks over the past year.
The fundraising effort marks the 10th year that Raymond James, TMJ4, and Milwaukee’s Hunger Task Force have partnered for the Home 4 the Holidays virtual food drive. The online platform allows people to purchase an assortment of holiday food choices from the comfort of their own home or office.
Gary Sievewright from Raymond James explained why the company continues its annual participation.
Watch: Community raises over $29,000 during Home 4 the Holidays virtual food drive
Community raises over $29,000 during Home 4 the Holidays virtual food drive
“It’s part of our culture to be involved in the community, and we just love the need to help people that really have a need for food, right? So this is a passion of ours, it’s a passion of yours. We love the partnership, and we’re happy to raise as much money as we can every year,” Sievewright said.
People can continue making donations by visiting HungerTaskForce.org to help feed families in need this holiday season.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Let’s talk:
Hey there! At TMJ4 News, we’re all about listening to our audience and tackling the stuff that really matters to you. Got a story idea, tip, or just want to chat about this piece? Hit us up using the form below. For more ways to get in touch, head over to tmj4.com/tips.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
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Milwaukee New Year’s Eve Free Rides
In partnership with Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS), the Miller Lite Free Rides program returns to Milwaukee as people ring in the new year.
MILWAUKEE – In partnership with Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS), the Miller Lite Free Rides program returns to Milwaukee as people ring in the new year.
The program got its start in 1988 and provides residents with free transportation to celebrate the new year responsibly.
This year’s program is especially meaningful as Miller Lite celebrates its 50th anniversary and the Free Rides program approaches 10 million rides provided nationwide.
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Visit the MCTS website to find the most popular routes. You can also download the UMO app to plan and track your bus in real-time.
The Source: The information in this post was provided by Molson Coors Beverage Company.
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