Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Finance & Personnel Committee, chaired by Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic, convened on October 6, 2026, at 1:09 p.m. to review the Mayor’s proposed 2027 budget for Port Milwaukee, the Department of City Development (DCD), and the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee (RACM). The meeting lasted until 3:36 p.m. and included detailed presentations, committee questioning, and discussion on operational budgets, capital projects, housing programs, economic development, and revenue challenges. Both agenda items were held to the call of the chair on motions by Ald. Sharlen Moore, each unanimously approved (5–0).
Port Milwaukee – The port presented a $7.2 million operational budget (3% increase), funded entirely by user fees with no property tax support for daily operations. Key topics included:
Department of City Development and Redevelopment Authority – Presenters covered the DCD proposed budget (up 6%, driven by salary adjustments) and RACM budget ($5.1 million total, $1.6 million from general funds). Major discussion points:
Committee Actions – At the conclusion of the discussion, Ald. Moore moved to hold both agenda items to the call of the chair. The motions passed unanimously:
Budget hearing today, and I'm Alder Woman Marina Dimitrievich, the chairwoman. I'm joined by Alderman Peter Bergellis, our vice chairperson. Alderman Scott Spikers here. Alder Woman Milleley Cox is joining us virtually virtually and virtually. Virtually, but Alder Woman Charlotte Moore is also here, and that provides us a quorum to conduct our business today on Tuesday, October 6th. We're on item number one. 26001 communication from the mayor relating to the proposed 2027 budget. Today we'll have a couple of items before us. We're excited to get started with Port Milwaukee, Department of City Development, and then we'll have Rackham also redevelopment authority of the City of Milwaukee. We'll be getting through through those today. We also have to remind anybody we have more listeners at psychic podcast at the beginning than the end. And so we want to make sure that everybody is invited to October 17th from 9 30 to 11 a.m. at the Mitchell Street Library for the Common Council's Finance and Personnel public hearing on the budget. And we thank everybody who came out last night. So we'll continue this important work. And with that, it'll be Port Milwaukee. We'll first go to the budget department led by budget director Nick Kovac. And then a brief presentation. And then, of course, questions from the common council members. So with that, Director Kovek. Thank you. Uh good afternoon, Madam Chair. Committee committee members on Nick Kovac Budget Management Division. Uh Anjali Pettigrew, budget analyst for the port will present their budget slides before introducing uh Benji and his team. Hello, Madam Chair and Committee members. Here today with the leadership team from Port Milwaukee. We are pleased to give an overview of the 2027 proposed executive budget. Our office worked closely with the port leadership to develop a balanced budget that supports the city's critical maritime infrastructure. Turning to the financial summary, the total proposed operational budget is 7.2 million. This is a small 3% increase over last year, primarily driven by salary increases and operating expenses. We will discuss further in the upcoming slides. Slide three breaks down the budget by service. The largest share of funds is allocated for the upkeep of the port's infrastructure and maintenance. We are allocating 4.5 million and 15 FTEs to secure daily operations on Jones Island. We are preparing the 800K grant with our local funding, which let us get back 80% of our costs through reimbursement matching via Wisconsin Dot Harbor Assistance and Freight Railroad Preservation Structure. Hence, Port is not hiring new people or adding new jobs. The proposed salary and wages increase by 81K to 1.8 million. This increase is driven by salary adjustments. While authorized position remain at 38 positions, there was a reclassification by deleting a vacant administrative assistant three position to add an administrative service coordinator position. This level of work performed by this position has advanced from routine administrative work to a high level independent role supporting leadership. All port divisions and the board. Moving on to operating equipment expenses. The department's operating expenditures are increasing by 67K. This increase will address property and maintenance service for aging maritime buildings. The department offset these costs by saving more than 19K in energy bills through new efficiency upgrades. The department has no plans to purchase any equipment this year. Now we'll discuss special funds and special purpose accounts. The total proposed budget across the special purpose account is $3.1 million, which is an increase of 21K. The main driver of this change is the SummerFest lease, which is increasing by 25K or 1.33%.