Budget Brief
2009 City of Milwaukee Proposed Budget
October, 2008

In his 2009 budget address, Mayor Tom Barrett called the 2009 budget "the toughest we have faced." A closer examination of his proposed budget reveals he was not exaggerating. Not only must the city contend with typical challenges such as increased wage and benefits costs and stagnant state aids, but this year it also must accommodate significant impacts generated by national economic conditions, including lower earnings on investments and a $3 million increase in budgeted fuel and energy costs. Additional challenges are the strong desire to maintain recent momentum in reducing crime rates by continuing healthy Police Department staffing levels, and the need to accommodate a loss of intergovernmental revenue from Milwaukee Public Schools.