On Tuesday, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson laid out his financial vision for 2025, introducing a $2 billion budget proposal that spotlights investment in public safety and economic development while acknowledging a need for conscientious fiscal management. This boost to the Milwaukee Police and Fire Departments reflects the mayor's commitment to maintain public safety amidst a suite of challenges shaped by the 2023 Act 12 government funding law.
According to an article from FOX6 News, the proposal outlines a 2% increase to the tax levy, which sees the average Milwaukee homeowner paying an additional $62 in city property tax. The mayor, being mindful of the strain on the residents' pockets, expressed during the announcement, "This was a very intense budget process. I pay attention to every single issue, many times pushing back and advocating for residents in Milwaukee to make sure we weren’t overly looking to take more money from their pockets. I want them to have more resources in their pockets, so we were very, very vigilant on that."
Amid concerns of inflation and rising living costs, the mayor's strategy also entails heightened fees, as per CBS 58. A notable example includes a 2% increase for garbage pickup services. In the realm of public safety, investments pivot notably towards novel methods for accountability on the roads with portable cameras targeting reckless driving.
However, the budget presentation was not without its dissenting voices. Protesters interrupted the mayor's speech to the Common Council, expressing their disagreement with the city's spending on law enforcement. As reported by CBS 58, the group argued that, "Spending $300 million will not keep Milwaukee safe." Mayor Johnson, incumbent to the protests, defended his stance, citing, "Act 12 is very clear about the responsibility that we have to make investments in the police department. And the fire department. Those are things that I wanted to do anyway. Public safety is very, very important to me."
The fiscal plan comes at a critical juncture as Milwaukee's economic landscape grapples with the ramifications of Act 12, balancing shared revenue with concurrent increases in city expenses. In a statement featured by the Journal Sentinel, Johnson said, "Provisions of Act 12 are in force, leaving non-public safety departments to absorb, disproportionately, necessary belt-tightening." Notably, the forthcoming budget precludes the American Rescue Plan Act funds that benefitted the city previously.
The Common Council will now review and amend the proposal before its official adoption in November. Public input will be considered at an upcoming finance committee meeting, where residents can share their concerns or support for the fiscal plan proposed by Mayor Johnson.
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