Supervisor Taylor’s Amendment Funding Critical County Services Advances

MILWAUKEE – Supervisor Steve F. Taylor authored an amendment to the County Executive’s 2025 Recommended Budget, which was unanimously recommended by the Committee on Finance during today’s meeting. The amendment reflects a commitment to fiscal responsibility while ensuring that essential services across Milwaukee County are adequately funded.

Key Provisions of the Amendment Include:

• Unclaimed Money: The budget for unclaimed money has been increased by $2,250,000, based on updated information from the County Treasurer, acknowledging unclaimed funds from 2023 that were not previously recognized in the County’s budget.
• Fringe Benefits for County Employees: The amendment protects employees from drastic increases in healthcare costs by limiting adjustments to deductibles and co-pays. The proposed $50 monthly spousal surcharge for those with access to other health plans has been eliminated, saving employees significant out-of-pocket costs.
• Support for the Office of the District Attorney: $118,950 has been allocated to retain two Victim Witness Advocate positions, which had previously been federally funded.
• Parks, Recreation, and Culture: An additional $600,000 has been set aside to enhance Milwaukee County parks, including seasonal staff to improve access to aquatic amenities.
• Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) FAST Fund: The amendment allocates $200,000 to continue supporting the MATC Faculty and Students Together (FAST) Fund, which helps students facing barriers such as housing insecurity and food shortages.
• Debt Service Adjustments: Based on October bond sales, this amendment reduces the debt service tax levy by $1,057,686, easing the financial burden on taxpayers.
• Funding for Unfunded Positions: The amendment includes $58,981 to fund a previously unfunded position within the Office of the County Clerk.

Supervisor Steve F. Taylor made the following statement:

“This amendment represents a balanced approach to addressing the needs of our community while maintaining fiscal prudence,” said Supervisor Taylor. “By investing in critical services, protecting employee benefits, and ensuring that our parks and victim support services are fully funded, we are investing in the future of Milwaukee County.”

The amendment will be considered by the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors on November 7, 2024, at 9:30 AM at their annual budget adoption meeting.

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.