Joe Lamers

MCTS Tries New Tactics To Improve Safety for Operators

Providing rides for bus operators back to the station after they end their shift.

Tight Budget Forces Difficult Vote on Housing, Juvenile Justice

Sup. Shawn Rolland wants $500,000 for a housing program. But his chosen source raises concerns for administration, colleagues.

City, County Extend Funding for Eviction Prevention, Legal Aid

County and City team up to extend free legal counsel program, which has reduced need for other social services.

County Officials Close 2024 Budget Gap

Board approves funding package closing $19 million gap. But a new challenge awaits for 2025 budget.

County Strings Together Funds to Close $19 Million 2024 Budget Deficit

$3.3 million in ARPA funds, including $1 million originally allocated to affordable housing, used to close budget gap.

New Buses, Courthouse Project Pushed For 2025 Budget

County committee doing early work on budget struggles to find enough funding.

Brewers Ballpark Subsidy Stings County Budget

The county's contribution to the American Family Field deal is making its budget deficit worse in 2024.

Milwaukee County Honored with Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for 2024

This award is the highest recognition in governmental budgeting

Planning Begins for New Criminal Courthouse

County will solicit planning and design contractors in June for $488.4 million project.

Corrections Driving County Budget Into Deficit

Along with lower tax revenue than projected. '2024 may punch us in the face.'

Supervisors Upset By Penguin Project’s Increased Cost

Design error leads to $1.5 million hike in cost. 'Somebody's head should roll for that.'

Supervisors Recommend Funding for On-Demand Paratransit, Despite Objections

Though the funding is likely not enough, and would be realized by issuing debt.

Board and County Exec At Odds Over Debt, Spending

Board wants to surpass debt limit given new sales tax, surplus.

What’s The Future of The Charles Allis Art Museum?

One county budget amendment funds safety repairs, another seeks to end future contributions.

Crowley Backs Biggest Project in County History

His 2024 budget includes planning, design for $488 million courthouse project.

South Shore Breakwater Getting Emergency Repairs This Fall

But 2023 budget politics may have killed appetite for long-term repairs.

County Set To Begin Work On Replacing Courthouse, Safety Building

$500 million project would start with $3.8 million planning allocation.

Now Signed, Amended Legislation for Milwaukee’s Fiscal Health is an Opportunity for Property Tax Relief; Commended by Supervisors Burgelis, Logsdon

Supervisor Sheldon A. Wasserman Hosting Town Hall Meeting on Proposed Sales Tax Increase

County Sales Tax Hike Gets First Approval

County officials detail future cuts without sales tax plan, as Parks Department is halved and senior centers eliminated.

County Supervisors Hosting Washington Park Senior Center Town Hall Meeting on Proposed Sales Tax Increase

 

What Strings Are Attached to Sales Tax Law?

State law enabling sales tax hike mandates new policies, though some won't change much.

Supervisors Holding Town Halls on Sales Tax

Four town halls scheduled this month

Crowley Calls Sales Tax Hike A ‘Lifeline’

County executive urges adoption to stave off 'catastrophic' wipe out of many county services.

Crowley’s Special Grants Office Secured $46.8 Million in 2022

In its second year of operation, the county's grants division applied for approximately $143.6 million in funding.

County Programs Win 5 National Awards

National Association of Counties' non-competitive awards praise Milwaukee's innovations.

Milwaukee County Wins Five 2023 NACo Achievement Awards

Awarded for Mental Health Emergency Center, Credible Messenger Program, Electronic Patient Care Records System, Strategy Dashboard, and Parks Foundation

Board Grows Cautious As Legislature Debates Shared Revenue

Proposal for cultural spending shot down by supervisors worried about legislators' views.

Forensic Science Center Gains Funding

State commits $20 million toward county's new $127 million home for medical examiner and emergency management.

County Faces Drastic Budget Decisions

County is short $87 million over the next five years, could force massive cuts in service.

Crowley Reorganizes Budget Office

County Executive moves strategic planning into the budget office, seeking long-term improvements in racial equity.

County Executive Crowley Appointment of Joe Lamers as Director of New Office of Strategy, Budget, and Performance Passes Committee Vote

New department shifts County organizational design to prioritize vision and strategy

County Courts Short of Staff

Not enough deputy court clerks, court reporters, interpreters and defense lawyers for indigent, chief judge says.

Milwaukee County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Task Force will launch on Aug. 12

Committee will kick off effort to seek community feedback and build recommendations to strategically allocate $183.6 million in federal funding

County Pursues Funding to Replace 64 Buses

Hundreds of MCTS buses are coming due for replacement in upcoming years.

State Cuts to County Transit Go Deep

Legislature cuts Milwaukee's funding by $32.7 million over next two years. Impact could be devastating.

How Will County Spend Stimulus Money?

With $183 million in ARPA funding and more flexible guidelines, county could replace some lost revenue.

County Faces Financial Disaster

By 2027 structural deficit will leave zero dollars to spend on parks, transit, other local services.

Board Approves Overtime Oversight Policy

New policy will likely bring the sheriff's office before the board to explain overtime expenditures.

County Ends 2020 with $32 Million Surplus

In a big turnaround, projected deficit became a surplus due to federal CARES Act funding.

County Running Out of CARES Act Funds

Report shows its entire $77 million allocation has been spent or will be claimed by costs already incurred.

County Working To Close Budget Gap

Officials face a projected $42 million deficit for 2021. Cuts could be brutal.

Crowley Using CARES Funds For Housing

Of $77 million in federal funding, biggest single grant helps those at risk of losing housing.

County Wants Its CARES Money Back

$103 million allocated for Milwaukee County ended up with the state. County officials demand the money.

COVID-19 Could Cost County $450 Million

Milwaukee County being squeezed by increased costs, declining revenue.

County COVID-19 Expenses Are Rising

Already in the millions. County may need to levy property taxes above the state-imposed limit.

County Budget Will Be Hit Hard by COVID-19 Shutdown

2021 budget deficit could be $40 million or more.

Transit Union Stages Rally

Calls for contract to include to backpay and driver security measures, and for the restoration of bus routes.

Committee Okays Referendum on Legalizing Pot

Unanimous vote in favor of November referendum asking to legalize and tax marijuana.

Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele Announces Appointment of Joe Lamers to Serve as Budget Director

Lamers, a Wisconsin native and UW-Milwaukee graduate, will begin his role at Milwaukee County on February 12th.