Milwaukee County Budget Director
Content referencing 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.
Nov 9th, 2024 by Graham KilmerTight 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.
Nov 1st, 2024 by Graham KilmerCity, 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.
Oct 25th, 2024 by Graham KilmerCounty 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 KilmerCounty 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.
Sep 6th, 2024 by Graham KilmerNew Buses, Courthouse Project Pushed For 2025 Budget
County committee doing early work on budget struggles to find enough funding.
Aug 13th, 2024 by Graham KilmerBrewers Ballpark Subsidy Stings County Budget
The county's contribution to the American Family Field deal is making its budget deficit worse in 2024.
Jul 28th, 2024 by Graham KilmerMilwaukee County Honored with Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for 2024
This award is the highest recognition in governmental budgeting
Jun 6th, 2024 by County Executive David CrowleyPlanning Begins for New Criminal Courthouse
County will solicit planning and design contractors in June for $488.4 million project.
Jun 4th, 2024 by Graham KilmerCorrections Driving County Budget Into Deficit
Along with lower tax revenue than projected. '2024 may punch us in the face.'
May 21st, 2024 by Graham KilmerSupervisors Upset By Penguin Project’s Increased Cost
Design error leads to $1.5 million hike in cost. 'Somebody's head should roll for that.'
Jan 27th, 2024 by Graham KilmerSupervisors Recommend Funding for On-Demand Paratransit, Despite Objections
Though the funding is likely not enough, and would be realized by issuing debt.
Nov 6th, 2023 by Graham KilmerBoard and County Exec At Odds Over Debt, Spending
Board wants to surpass debt limit given new sales tax, surplus.
Nov 5th, 2023 by Graham KilmerWhat’s The Future of The Charles Allis Art Museum?
One county budget amendment funds safety repairs, another seeks to end future contributions.
Nov 2nd, 2023 by Graham KilmerCrowley Backs Biggest Project in County History
His 2024 budget includes planning, design for $488 million courthouse project.
Oct 9th, 2023 by Graham KilmerSouth Shore Breakwater Getting Emergency Repairs This Fall
But 2023 budget politics may have killed appetite for long-term repairs.
Aug 18th, 2023 by Graham KilmerCounty Set To Begin Work On Replacing Courthouse, Safety Building
$500 million project would start with $3.8 million planning allocation.
Aug 18th, 2023 by Graham KilmerSupervisor Sheldon A. Wasserman Hosting Town Hall Meeting on Proposed Sales Tax Increase
Jul 20th, 2023 by Sup. Sheldon Wasserman
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.
Jul 17th, 2023 by Graham KilmerCounty Supervisors Hosting Washington Park Senior Center Town Hall Meeting on Proposed Sales Tax Increase
 
Jul 17th, 2023 by Milwaukee County Board of SupervisorsWhat 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 KilmerSupervisors Holding Town Halls on Sales Tax
Four town halls scheduled this month
Jul 10th, 2023 by Graham KilmerCrowley 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 KilmerCrowley’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.
Jun 1st, 2023 by Graham KilmerCounty Programs Win 5 National Awards
National Association of Counties' non-competitive awards praise Milwaukee's innovations.
May 23rd, 2023 by Graham KilmerMilwaukee 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
May 23rd, 2023 by County Executive David CrowleyBoard Grows Cautious As Legislature Debates Shared Revenue
Proposal for cultural spending shot down by supervisors worried about legislators' views.
May 16th, 2023 by Graham KilmerForensic Science Center Gains Funding
State commits $20 million toward county's new $127 million home for medical examiner and emergency management.
Sep 27th, 2022 by Graham KilmerCounty 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 KilmerCrowley Reorganizes Budget Office
County Executive moves strategic planning into the budget office, seeking long-term improvements in racial equity.
Jan 28th, 2022 by Graham KilmerCounty 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
Jan 27th, 2022 by County Executive David CrowleyCounty Courts Short of Staff
Not enough deputy court clerks, court reporters, interpreters and defense lawyers for indigent, chief judge says.
Nov 1st, 2021 by Margo Kirchner and Gretchen SchuldtMilwaukee 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
Jul 22nd, 2021 by Sup. Shawn RollandCounty Pursues Funding to Replace 64 Buses
Hundreds of MCTS buses are coming due for replacement in upcoming years.
Jul 15th, 2021 by Graham KilmerState Cuts to County Transit Go Deep
Legislature cuts Milwaukee's funding by $32.7 million over next two years. Impact could be devastating.
Jun 29th, 2021 by Graham KilmerHow Will County Spend Stimulus Money?
With $183 million in ARPA funding and more flexible guidelines, county could replace some lost revenue.
Jun 23rd, 2021 by Graham KilmerCounty Faces Financial Disaster
By 2027 structural deficit will leave zero dollars to spend on parks, transit, other local services.
May 3rd, 2021 by Graham KilmerBoard Approves Overtime Oversight Policy
New policy will likely bring the sheriff's office before the board to explain overtime expenditures.
Apr 26th, 2021 by Graham KilmerCounty Ends 2020 with $32 Million Surplus
In a big turnaround, projected deficit became a surplus due to federal CARES Act funding.
Mar 22nd, 2021 by Graham KilmerCounty Running Out of CARES Act Funds
Report shows its entire $77 million allocation has been spent or will be claimed by costs already incurred.
Feb 9th, 2021 by Graham KilmerCounty Working To Close Budget Gap
Officials face a projected $42 million deficit for 2021. Cuts could be brutal.
Aug 19th, 2020 by Graham KilmerCrowley Using CARES Funds For Housing
Of $77 million in federal funding, biggest single grant helps those at risk of losing housing.
Jul 27th, 2020 by Graham KilmerCounty Wants Its CARES Money Back
$103 million allocated for Milwaukee County ended up with the state. County officials demand the money.
May 23rd, 2020 by Graham KilmerCOVID-19 Could Cost County $450 Million
Milwaukee County being squeezed by increased costs, declining revenue.
May 15th, 2020 by Graham KilmerCounty COVID-19 Expenses Are Rising
Already in the millions. County may need to levy property taxes above the state-imposed limit.
Apr 14th, 2020 by Graham KilmerCounty Budget Will Be Hit Hard by COVID-19 Shutdown
2021 budget deficit could be $40 million or more.
Apr 10th, 2020 by Graham KilmerTransit Union Stages Rally
Calls for contract to include to backpay and driver security measures, and for the restoration of bus routes.
Sep 22nd, 2019 by Graham KilmerCommittee Okays Referendum on Legalizing Pot
Unanimous vote in favor of November referendum asking to legalize and tax marijuana.
May 10th, 2018 by Graham KilmerMilwaukee 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.
Feb 1st, 2018 by County Executive Chris Abele