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What's in the 2024 Milwaukee County budget?
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley on Wednesday, Nov. 15 signed the 2024 adopted budget. Here is what it includes.
MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley on Wednesday, Nov. 15 signed the 2024 budget, which includes a property tax cut.
"This is a historic moment. This is the first time in two decades that Milwaukee County will have a surplus within our budget," said Crowley. "This means a lot. This means we didn’t have to worry about making cuts that were going to be harmful."
The county estimates the budget surplus will be $31.6 million.
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Crowley credited the state's shared revenue law, passed this year, which sends more money back to local governments and also allowed Milwaukee County to add to its sales tax. Much of the surplus will go back to taxpayers.
"We will have the ability to provide the largest property tax cut in Milwaukee County’s history to the tune of more than $21 million," Crowley told FOX6.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley signs 2024 budget
Milwaukee County estimates the median home, assessed at $172,000, would get a county property tax cut of about $100. A $350,000 home would see a cut of about $200.
"We actually went all the way back to 1992, and this is really the first time that property taxes have been cut by any significant amount since at least that time," said Rob Henken, Wisconsin Policy Forum president. "That’s really a phenomenal thing."
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"A $100 more or less to me is not spectacular. Still, there are some people who will really make use of the hundred dollars," homeowner Douglas Dropp said of the estimated property tax cut. "It’s always good when taxes go down, as long as they can somewhat maintain services."
"It is a lot of money at the end of the day, when you’re thinking about the cost of inflation. When we see the rising in housing prices, we see the rise in gas prices, though that is coming down a little bit now, but also the rise in food prices," Crowley said. "This is moment when we had to fight to bring back revenues, and so we should reward our residents with this property tax cut."
Dropp has owned his Milwaukee home since 1976 and seen his property taxes and assessments go way up.
"It’s ridiculous what the home values are," he said.
At the same time as Milwaukee County's property taxes are getting cut, the city's property taxes are going up. The median city home, valued at $145,000, will see the city property tax go up about $50, plus an additional $10.73 in fees.
Furthermore, the county sales tax will be going up in January, from 0.5% now to 0.9%. The city will also start its first city sales tax of 2%
What else does the county budget address?
Unlike recent budgets, this year the county will not be cutting transit and parks.
"The two areas that have been under the most duress have been the transit system and the parks. And the reason for that is those are the two discretionary services provided by county government. The vast majority of the other services the county provides are mandated by the state government," Henken said. "As the resources have become more slim, really those two functions have had to fight for the scraps that are left over after the county takes care of its mandated services."
The signed budget includes more than $16 million for the Milwaukee County Transit System. County leaders said it will help "sustain current transportation services, enhance transit security, and prevent further fiscal challenges."
Milwaukee County Parks will also see more resources. This budget adds $3 million, which the county says will create 18 new full-time jobs. Another $23 million will go to new park projects, including improving and modernizing trails.
Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS)
The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors passed the budget last week, which Crowley signed. It also includes:
- Milwaukee County Correctional Officer pay raises
- County employee pay raises
- Free phone calls and video time for inmates
- Extra homeless outreach
- Boost in funding for pre-trial mental health service
- Investments in affordable housing, including at Concordia 27
"It really puts Milwaukee County on the firmest financial footing it has been in a generation," said Henken. "Now, does that mean the county is out of the woods? Unfortunately, it doesn’t. There are still some structural issues remaining."
"It is a new day in Milwaukee County," Crowley said.