Finance Committee Approves Budget Amendment to Increase Correctional Officer Pay

MILWAUKEE – Today, Supervisor Peter Burgelis joined County Board Chairwoman Nicholson and nine other supervisors to sponsor Amendment 21 to the 2024 budget to raise the minimum Correctional Officer pay to $30.00 per hour. Supervisor Burgelis issued the following statement:  

 “In his proposed budget, the County Executive proposed a $1 increase to Correctional Officer pay. This will do little to address staffing shortages which will continue a negative ripple effect across County services, the court system, and municipal law enforcement. 

The County Board has the opportunity and responsibility to adequately fund Milwaukee County correctional officers. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections just approved a record high starting wage – including for the detention facility across the street from the County Jail. Unprecedented Correctional Officer rates at the Community Reintegration Center (17%) and Criminal Justice Facility (40%) are unsustainable and without bold action by the County Board will only get worse. Conditions at the Jail are far from ideal, and Correctional Officer staffing levels directly impact that. 

Currently, fourteen Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office Deputies have been reassigned to fill critical vacancies at the Jail. This means that there are even fewer deputies working courtrooms, or patrolling freeways and parks.” 

The Milwaukee County Chief Judge, Sheriff, District Attorney, and Clerk of Circuit Court all testified to the Finance Committee this month in support of a substantial increase correctional officer pay. 

This proposed raise would be a 10.21% increase from the current minimum pay for Correctional Officers.  This amendment calls for Milwaukee County Human Resources to assist improving onboarding systems that help expedite the time between application and hiring of Correctional Officers.  

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.