2024 Budget Update
Milwaukee's Common Council passed the 2025 budget, which adds $10.3 million for police due to provision of Act 12.
2023 Budget Wins
The new budget adds $750,000 to the Library to establish a pilot program providing Sunday hours.
It also creates a $2.4 million citizen-led transformation fund where residents will have influence over how the money is spent.
2022 Budget Wins
Relaunched LiberateMKE campaign, which focused on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) along with the city budget.
Wins included Milwaukee allocating $43.5 million for housing, $31 million for lead remediation using APRA funding, and the reduction of 25 Milwaukee Police Department officers.
Engaged with key community coalition partners supporting bail support and Black Mama's Day Bailout with Milwaukee Freedom Fund.
Continued community engagement with St. Joe's Accountability Coalition (SJAC); and held joint political education sessions with Black and Pink, Hmong American Women's Association, Milwaukee Chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, and Working Families Party.
2021 Budget Wins
Reduction of 120 police officer positions.
The Mayor’s proposed budget included a reduction of 60 police officers through retirement; there were several amendments to restore a portion of those officers. All of those amendments failed.
Community sign-on letter supporting non police response to mental health
Over 80 community partners and individuals signed on to our letter and the Common Council unanimously voted on a resolution to create a non-police response to mental health.
$2.9 million for a housing program
This housing program will increase affordable housing by funding alternative homeownership programs such as down payment assistance and shared equity models including cooperative models.
2020 Budget Wins
$900,000 Milwaukee police budget reduction.
Overall, we were able to achieve reducing the police budget by over $900,000 from what the Mayor proposed and close to $15 million less than they requested. We were able to increase funding for summer jobs for young people, affordable quality housing, and non-police violence prevention.
Reduction of 60 police officer positions.
The Mayor’s proposed budget included a reduction of 60 police officers through retirement, there were several amendments to restore a portion of those officers. All of those amendments failed.
$72,000 to increase the hourly wages of 130 Earn and Learn Summer Youth.
This amendment increases the pay for Summer Youth Internship Programs from $8.75 to the minimum wage for city employees, which is $11.32. This is also accompanied by a footnote in the budget that requires the Department of Administration to study how to make this program more effective, which includes outreach and placement of the interns.
$300,000 to create an emergency housing program for people who are displaced by lead hazards, domestic violence, homeless, or sex work.
This is funded by reducing the police department’s vehicle replacement budget by $300,000.
$240,000 to the Health Department to implement the Birthing Moms Pilot Project.
This program will distribute free water filters and lead education kits on lead-poisoning hazards to birthing moms who live in areas 53204, 50206, 53208, and 53210. The Mayor has vetoed this program because of the funding sources, but provided an alternative funding option. There is a very good chance this makes the final budget.