Content referencing Milwaukee County Comptroller
‘Red Flags’ Abound in Suspicious $450 Million County Health Contract
Board members blindsided by massive contract. Attorneys warn of 'catastrophic risk.'
Jan 30th, 2026 by Graham Kilmer
Report Says Bad Times Just Beginning For Milwaukee County
A report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum says budget cuts in 2026 likely to continue in successive years.
Oct 17th, 2025 by Graham Kilmer
Emails Reveal MCTS Officials Concealed Budget Deficit From Comptroller, County Board
MCTS planned to keep elected officials in the dark about its finances.
Oct 10th, 2025 by Graham Kilmer
Transit Union Gives Leader Strike Authority
MCTS is facing a budget deficit, political blowback and, now, labor unrest.
Jul 10th, 2025 by Graham Kilmer
Budget Deficit Fallout Grows, Head of MCTS Resigns
Transit system CEO is second official to resign since surprise deficit announcement.
Jul 8th, 2025 by Graham Kilmer
Transit Union Will Call Strike Vote
Union blindsided by budget deficit while negotiating next three-year contract.
Jul 6th, 2025 by Graham Kilmer
County Transportation Director Resigns
Donna Brown-Martin resigns after shocking MCTS budget deficit revealed.
Jul 1st, 2025 by Graham Kilmer
After Shocking Budget Shortfall, County Orders Up MCTS Audit
County executive, board and comptroller all caught off guard by $11 million deficit.
Jun 27th, 2025 by Graham Kilmer
Crowley’s 2025 Budget Avoids Service Cuts
With a 2.8% property tax hike and more funding for Sheriff's office, CRC and court security.
Oct 1st, 2024 by Graham Kilmer
County Officials Close 2024 Budget Gap
Board approves funding package closing $19 million gap. But a new challenge awaits for 2025 budget.
Sep 20th, 2024 by Graham Kilmer
Low Sales Tax Collections Spell Trouble for County
Low sales tax collections could drive county budget deficit into double digits by end of year.
Jul 25th, 2024 by Graham Kilmer
MCTS Adds 28 New Buses
But it's still not enough for the system's aging fleet.
Jul 13th, 2024 by Graham Kilmer
Supervisors Grudgingly Approve Raises for Sheriff’s Deputies
County Board unanimously approves new contract with sheriff's deputy union, but wants overtime under control.
May 24th, 2024 by Graham Kilmer
Liz Sumner Wins County Comptroller Race
Two-term county supervisor will replace longtime comptroller Scott Manske.
Apr 2nd, 2024 by Graham Kilmer
Meet the Candidates for County Office
And read the analysis of each race and bios for each candidate.
Apr 1st, 2024 by Graham Kilmer
Meet the Candidates for County Office
And read the analysis of each race and bios for each candidate.
Mar 30th, 2024 by Graham Kilmer
County Budget Woes Expected To Return Next Year
Despite new sales tax, county likely to have to cut positions and programs.
Mar 14th, 2024 by Graham Kilmer
Second Candidate Joins Race for County Comptroller
Capital Midwest Fund partner Michael Harper will run against Sup. Liz Sumner.
Jan 9th, 2024 by Graham Kilmer
Anne O’Connor Running for North Shore County Board Seat
O'Connor is co-founder of Bay Bridge, an advocacy organization focused on racism and segregation.
Dec 7th, 2023 by Graham Kilmer
Comptroller Manske Won’t Seek Reelection
A county employee since 1992, Manske became the county's first elected financial officer in 2011.
Oct 13th, 2023 by Graham Kilmer
What Strings Are Attached to Sales Tax Law?
State law enabling sales tax hike mandates new policies, though some won't change much.
Jul 12th, 2023 by Graham Kilmer
Supervisors Holding Town Halls on Sales Tax
Four town halls scheduled this month
Jul 10th, 2023 by Graham Kilmer
Crowley Calls Sales Tax Hike A ‘Lifeline’
County executive urges adoption to stave off 'catastrophic' wipe out of many county services.
Jul 10th, 2023 by Graham Kilmer
County Comptroller Could Get $1 Million Backdrop
Or about $700,000 if Scott Manske is not reelected for another four years.
Jul 5th, 2023 by Bruce Murphy
Special Public Hearing Scheduled On County Sales Tax Increase
Meeting will give residents opportunity to speak directly to supervisors about potential sales tax increase.
Jun 30th, 2023 by Graham Kilmer
Liz Sumner Announces Candidacy for County Comptroller
Supervisor plans run for county's chief financial officer.
Jun 15th, 2023 by Graham Kilmer
16 Bus Routes Could Be Cut By 2025
Budget cuts could slash 45% of all bus routes and 20% of bus service, MCTS warns.
Jun 6th, 2023 by Graham Kilmer
Assembly Republicans Have Plan To Help Milwaukee, Will It Work?
Proposal would increase shared revenue and enable sales tax for Milwaukee, with strings attached.
Apr 27th, 2023 by Jeramey Jannene and Graham Kilmer
MCTS Launches #SaveTheBus Campaign
Transit system raising awareness of its impending budget crisis.
Apr 21st, 2023 by Graham Kilmer
County’s Financial Forecast Gets Grimmer
County falls short by more than $100 million in new five-year outlook by comptroller.
Mar 15th, 2023 by Graham Kilmer
Bus Route Cuts Coming in 2023
Final 2023 county budget cut millions from MCTS funding, causing reductions in service.
Nov 21st, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Referendums Show Local Government Funding Challenges
While state aid remains stagnant, localities across Wisconsin seek property tax hikes.
Nov 16th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Staff Shortage Limits Airport’s Rebound
Demand is way up since pandemic, but airline capacity an issue for Mitchell International Airport.
Oct 24th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Museum, Forensic Center Will Cost County $161 Million
Projects will increase county debt burden by 23%, greatly increasing county's fiscal woes.
Oct 21st, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Transit System Will Continue to Shrink
Budget cuts beginning in 2023 will soften landing from transit system's fiscal cliff.
Oct 14th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
County Would Raise Tax Levy For Forensic Science Center
County would exceed property tax limits to pay back $107 million in debt for new forensic center and public museum.
Oct 11th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Crowley Introduces 2023 Budget Laden With ‘Tough Decisions’
Budget increases parks, other departments funding, but shows that cuts are on the horizon.
Sep 29th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Johnsons Park To Be Renamed
Or actually expanded, to include first names of the park's current namesakes.
Sep 19th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Task Force Rejects ARPA Funding for Domes
Supervisors want to use $19 million in pandemic stimulus funds to begin fixing Mitchell Park Domes.
Sep 8th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
County Bus System Up By 1 Million Rides
MCTS hits 8.4 million rides this year, a big increase, but still far behind pre-pandemic levels.
Aug 15th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Crowley Vetoes Downtown Roller Rink
Roller rink in Red Arrow Park won't happen this summer, but idea may not be dead.
Aug 2nd, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
County Must Decide On North-South BRT
Project could be transformative, but $148 million price tag nearly twice that of East-West BRT.
Jul 19th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Cost of Youth Offenders Keeps Rising
Number sent to costly state prisons nearly doubled since March, imperiling county's alternative youth justice programs.
Jun 21st, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Domes Project Returns to Reality
$66 million plan to fix domes, redevelop Mitchell Park is shot down, leaving the facility's future a question mark.
Jun 15th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
No Good Options For County Transit
Facing huge shortfall, MCTS can only balance budget with harmful or unpopular changes, report finds.
May 9th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Crowley Signs Paid Parental Leave Bill
Bill expected to have small fiscal impact and big payoff for families and social equity.
Apr 12th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
County Faces Drastic Budget Decisions
County is short $87 million over the next five years, could force massive cuts in service.
Apr 5th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Board Okays $45 Million for New Museum
With little discussion, a 14-4 vote for $45 million in bonds and likely property tax increase.
Mar 15th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Will Museum Drop ‘Public’ From Name?
Attorney says maintaining a 'public museum' is a financial necessity. Museum officials say 'public' in name confuses people.
Mar 14th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
County Would Hike Property Taxes for Museum
Financially strapped county would spend up to $63 million over 15 years for new museum.
Mar 14th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Board Will Consider Raise for Sheriff
Proposed raise, effective at start of next sheriff's term in 2023, may face board opposition.
Jan 17th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
County Pension Bonds Saved Up To $269 Million
Could the city use this financial mechanism to lower costs?
Dec 21st, 2021 by Bruce Murphy
How Did County Finance $1.2 Billon Annual Budget?
The money comes from many sources, with only 25% coming from the property tax.
Nov 23rd, 2021 by Graham Kilmer
Proposal Limits Cost of Jail Visits, Food
Sup. Clancy proposes free phone, video calls and limits on commissary charges for food.
Sep 7th, 2021 by Graham Kilmer
Committee Reviews Mental Health Emergency Center Plan
New facility in central city location partnering county with major health care providers.
Feb 3rd, 2021 by Graham Kilmer
Crowley Budget Advances Equity Goals
$1.2 billion budget down slightly, with less for capital spending, parks and Sheriff's office.
Oct 6th, 2020 by Graham Kilmer
Convention Center District Authorizes $420 Million Expansion, Raises Hotel Tax
District still aiming for 2023 opening even though bonds can't be sold.
Apr 2nd, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Voces de La Frontera Mobilizing Voters
Effort for 2020 builds on 2016, when it recruited 5,600 Latinx voters, 67% of them new voters.
Feb 4th, 2020 by Isiah Holmes
Public Likes Domes Plan
They want to save the Domes, as does county board. But can officials move quickly enough?
Sep 19th, 2019 by Graham Kilmer
Bus Union Authorizes a Strike
The union votes no on MCTS' final contract offer, gives leadership power to call strike.
Sep 6th, 2019 by Graham Kilmer
Bus Union’s Budget Claims Disputed
Its claim that MCTS has big annual surpluses misrepresents the budget, comptroller says.
Sep 4th, 2019 by Graham Kilmer
County Launches Investigation Into Former Register Of Deeds
John La Fave retired after his office was raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
May 19th, 2019 by Corrinne Hess
Norquist Bashes Inspector General Idea
Council wants its own watchdog. Former mayor says post is unnecessary.
Oct 12th, 2018 by Bruce Murphy
Audit Finds Staffing Problems at County Jail
And at House of Correction. Both facilities consistently understaffed for 22 months.
Aug 22nd, 2018 by Ximena Conde
The House Where Addicts Die
Five overdose deaths in eight months at a West Side transitional living center.
Apr 18th, 2018 by Isiah Holmes
Menomonee Valley Lacks Transit
Valley's employers have transit needs similar to suburbs, study says.
Apr 26th, 2017 by Michael Horne
Goodbye to MCTS Free Ride
County begins charging for controversial GO Pass program in June.
Apr 26th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene
Milwaukee County Fixes GO Pass
Fees and new requirements for free ride program with huge cost overruns.
Mar 29th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene
Is Free Pass Bleeding County Transit?
Controversial free GO Pass for seniors and disabled costs millions, awaits new report.
Mar 2nd, 2016 by Jeramey Jannene
Could Abele Sell County Parks?
Abele says he won’t, but state law allows sale of 43 parks. Supervisors move to bar this.
Jan 31st, 2016 by Virginia Small
