Highly challenging budget times have returned to Milwaukee County. A projected $47 million deficit for 2026 and revelation of a nearly $11 million mid-year 2025 budget hole for the transit system cast a tall shadow on budget preparations as they were initiated in the spring. Several new and expanded revenue sources adopted in the 2025-27 state budget alleviated the pressure considerably, but continued negative trends in public safety overtime and employee health care spending – coupled with...
