Sorry taxpayers, money from fee can t be replaced by pandemic aid, federal rules say. By Jeramey Jannene - May 19th, 2021 11:53 am //end headline wrapper ?>Get a daily rundown of the top stories on Urban Milwaukee
Street light at the corner of N. Marshall St. and E. Ogden Ave. Photo by Mariiana Tzotcheva.
Milwaukee property owners just received their first quarterly city service bill with the new street lighting fee included. Because of new federal guidance, it doesn’t look like it will be the last because of new federal guidance.
Backed by Mayor
Tom Barrett, a special Common Council meeting was held on April 1st to consider suspending the fee for two quarters in light of the pending receipt of approximately $400 million in federal funds via the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act.
One-sixth of city workforce projected for cuts by 2026, with added cuts in future years. By Jeramey Jannene - Apr 28th, 2021 01:16 pm //end headline wrapper ?>Milwaukee City Hall. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
City of Milwaukee officials continue to stare down a 2023 fiscal cliff.
As that day of reckoning draws closer, the actual amount of a required pension fund contribution is coming into focus. The city will need to come up with an additional $76.6 million annually, a 105% increase, starting in 2023. But the city doesn’t have the ability to raise taxes to plug that gap.
The city must increase its annual contribution to offset declining pension fund returns and increasing costs. The size of the increase is expected to affect every city department, potentially causing a cascading series of layoffs and service reductions or eliminations.
Latest federal COVID-19 stimulus plan creates pleasant challenge for mayor, council. By Jeramey Jannene - Apr 14th, 2021 12:20 pm //end headline wrapper ?>Jericho / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, the latest federal COVID-19 stimulus bill, will provide at least $405 million to the City of Milwaukee. City officials hail it as a great opportunity and great challenge.
The city is receiving $687 per capita, the 12th highest total out of the 100 largest cities, based on a formula that assigns funding based on poverty, housing crowding and relative population growth.
Mayor
Tom Barrett appeared before a Common Council committee on March 17th pledging to cooperate on a spending plan.