Collaborative Nicholson-Bovell Amendment Lowers Levy, Funds Community Priorities
MILWAUKEE – Today the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors’ budget committee unanimously approved a collaborative amendment to the 2027 budget led by Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson-Bovell and Finance Chairman Steve F. Taylor, along with co-sponsors Supervisors Shawn Rolland, Caroline Gómez-Tom, Steven Shea, Sheldon A. Wasserman, Justin Bielinski, Sky Z. Capriolo, Jack Eckblad, Anne O’Connor, Kathleen Vincent, Juan Miguel Martinez, Felesia A. Martin, and Patti Logsdon. The amendment prioritizes investments in community services, food access, parks, youth programs, and public health while reducing the proposed property tax levy.
“Thank you, County Executive David Crowley, for your partnership in leading with a budget that gives the County a strong foundation and prioritizes and funds services, including transit. By listening to our community and working collaboratively, we are recommending this amendment that builds on that foundation by strengthening emergency support, expanding community resources, sustaining access to fresh and affordable food, keeping our parks welcoming and open, and supporting the well-being of our employees,” said Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson-Bovell. “Our residents love their green spaces, and our Emerald Necklace belongs to everyone. That’s why we’re removing the Parks Department’s Pay to Park proposal. Enjoying a beautiful day at the lakefront shouldn’t feel like joining a country club. Access to our parks and lakefront shouldn’t depend on your income, your neighborhood, or your ZIP code. Our parks are public spaces, supported by public dollars, and we’re committed to keeping them welcoming and accessible to all.”
“We closed the budget gap, lowered the proposed property tax levy by nearly $700,000 and kept public safety a priority,” said Chair of the Committee on Finance, Supervisor Steve F. Taylor. “This amendment puts taxpayers first, prioritizes conventional video cameras to improve park security and focuses county dollars on essential services. It’s about making responsible financial decisions, protecting taxpayers and delivering results for Milwaukee County residents.”
The amendment invests in community priorities, including the MATC FAST Fund for students, Milwaukee Market Match, senior meals and transportation, Eviction Free MKE/Right to Counsel, IMPACT 211, Washington Park Aquatics, seasonal aquatic staffing, youth programming, and employee wellness, while reducing the proposed property tax levy by $695,157.
The next step is the County Board’s annual public hearing on the 2027 budget on Monday, October 26, at 6 p.m. at Windhover Hall in the Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive. Doors open at 5 p.m. Residents are encouraged to attend and testify in person or participate virtually by signing up at milwaukee.gov/publichearing. Residents may also submit written comments through the County’s online public comment process through the 27th.
The full Board will vote on the 2027 budget at its Budget Adoption Meeting on Nov. 5, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Amendment Highlights:
Health & Human Services: The amendment sets aside $950,000 in a youth services contingency fund to help address potential state funding cuts and for community-based alternatives for justice-involved youth, including credible messenger programs. It restores $200,000 for the MATC Faculty and Students Together (FAST) Fund, an emergency grant program that helps students facing financial emergencies maintain housing stability and stay in school. The amendment also increases funding for the Eviction Free MKE right-to-counsel eviction prevention program by $38,750, bringing total funding to $150,000. This proven program has helped thousands of Milwaukee residents avoid eviction while delivering a meaningful return on the community’s investment. Funding for IMPACT 211 information and referral services is set at $150,000, supporting residents as they navigate health care, housing, and emergency resources while recognizing the County’s expanded role in connecting residents with the services they need.
Food Access & Senior Services: The amendment invests more than $300,000 in food access and senior services, helping families stretch their grocery budgets, supporting local farmers, and enabling older adults to age with dignity. It provides $100,000 for Milwaukee Market Match, which doubles SNAP benefits at farmers markets, helping residents afford fresh, nutritious food while supporting local farmers. The amendment also allocates $150,577 in County tax levy funding for senior nutrition programs, including congregate meals and home-delivered meals, to help mitigate potential service reductions amid federal funding cuts. An additional $57,500 supports transportation services for older adults, helping seniors maintain access to essential services and community connections.
Parks & Recreation: The amendment removes the Parks Department’s Pay to Park proposal for the lakefront and Story Hill, helping preserve public access to these shared spaces without introducing new fees. It also adds $100,000 in seasonal funding for aquatics next summer. Additionally, the amendment provides $497,242 in bonding for Washington Park Aquatics, supporting ongoing community fundraising efforts to reimagine the space as a place where neighborhood children and families can gather, cool off, and make summer memories. The amendment also expands an existing capital project for purchase and installation of conventional cameras in alignment with the policy unanimously adopted by the County last month to remove Flock cameras in parks. Because keeping our parks safe must also come with transparency and accountability, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office is to report back to the Board in March 2027 on how camera locations were selected, the data behind those decisions, and how the video footage is to be used to investigate and solve crimes.
Employee Wellness & Health Equity: In keeping with Milwaukee County’s vision to be the healthiest county in Wisconsin, the amendment maintains current dental coverage and keeps the emergency room copayment at $200, instead of increasing the charge to $250. Keeping these benefits in place supports employee health and wellness by helping County employees access the care they need, manage unexpected health care expenses, and maintain the well-being of the workforce that delivers services our residents depend on day in and day out.
The amendment supports these community priorities through updated revenue estimates for real estate transfer fees and sales taxes, increased prescription drug rebates, adjustments to centralized funding, and the use of available Estabrook Dam Trust funds to offset the elimination of paid park parking. The amendment also reduces debt service expenditures by $695,157, with a corresponding reduction in the County’s allowable property tax levy limit. Overall, the amendment reduces the proposed 2027 property tax levy by $695,157 compared with the 2027 Recommended Budget, while providing an additional $497,242 in general obligation bonding for Washington Park Aquatics.
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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