Supervisor Deanna Alexander Calls for Transparency, Accountability Following $4.6 Million Budget Error
Amendment Seeks Review of Budget Controls, Greater Oversight and Plan to Address Shortfall
MILWAUKEE — A $4.6 million error in Milwaukee County’s 2027 Recommended Budget raises serious questions about the County’s budget preparation, financial reporting and communication with elected officials, Supervisor Deanna Alexander said Thursday. While mistakes can happen, elected officials and the public deserve timely disclosure, accurate information and a clear plan to address the consequences.
An amendment authored by Supervisors Jack Eckblad and Shawn Rolland, and co-sponsored by Supervisors Kathleen Vincent, Felesia A. Martin, Leevan D. Roundtree Jr., Anne O’Connor, Deanna Alexander, Caroline Gómez-Tom, Justin Bielinski, Steve F. Taylor, Sky Z. Capriolo, Juan Miguel Martinez, Patti Logsdon, Priscilla E. Coggs-Jones, Steven Shea and Willie Johnson Jr., requests that the Office of Strategy, Budget and Performance (OSBP) review its budget preparation and verification procedures, including the use of technology and automated processes, internal controls and independent reviews.
The amendment also calls for a report to the County Board during the January 2027 meeting cycle outlining the findings and corrective actions. Supervisor Alexander issued the following statement:
“An error of $4.6 million in the County Executive’s 2027 Recommended Budget is serious and deserves a thorough explanation. Mistakes can happen, even in complex government operations. What we should never accept are preventable surprises when significant financial information isn’t shared with elected officials in a timely and transparent manner. We don’t expect perfection, but we do expect accountability.
“Elected officials have a responsibility to provide oversight on behalf of the people we serve. That responsibility depends on having accurate information when decisions are being made. When significant financial information doesn’t reach elected officials in a timely way, it undermines the oversight our democratic process is designed to provide.
“This amendment requires the Office of Strategy, Budget and Performance to examine the circumstances surrounding this error, identify how the $4.6 million shortfall will be addressed, and report back to the County Board in January with concrete safeguards to prevent similar failures in the future.
“This is about more than correcting a number on a spreadsheet. It’s about restoring public confidence, protecting taxpayer dollars, and ensuring the people entrusted with making decisions on behalf of our residents have the information and accountability necessary to do their jobs.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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