Public input drives budget amendment that seeks to restore library and fire services

Common Council President José G. Pérez and Finance and Personnel Committee Chair Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic are putting forth an amendment to the 2023 City budget that will restore the proposed cuts to library and fire services, among other areas. The alders stressed the key role public input played when crafting this amendment.

“This budget amendment has the support of a majority of the Common Council and we thank members for their careful consideration and compromise. It delays major changes to library hours and fire station closures.  However, we have little to celebrate. The catastrophic financial situation of the City warrants more time and discussions with our community as we work together to provide the city services our residents count on. We are committed to deeper conversations with our constituents and the Administration as we rebuild our city moving forward post-pandemic,” Alders Pérez and Dimitrijevic said.​

Money to restore essential city services will come from federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding previously disbursed to the City and an adjustment to the police budget. The budget amendment includes restoring all proposed funding cuts to the Milwaukee Public Library and Milwaukee Fire Department, in addition to adding funding to the Department of City Development Commercial Corridor Program, supporting vacant lot maintenance, and adding to the Healthy Food Establishment Fund.

All budget amendments and other budget related items heard by the Finance and Personnel Committee will be part of Common Council file # 220001 – communication from the Mayor relating to the proposed 2023 budget. The file can be viewed here.

The Finance and Personnel Committee will consider all budget amendments at its meeting at 9 a.m. on Thursday, October 27. The meeting can be streamed live on the City Channel (channel 25 on Spectrum Cable and channel 99 on AT&T U-Verse in the City of Milwaukee) and via streaming video on the city website at www.city.milwaukee.gov/Channel25.

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.