Waukesha Finance Committee Meeting – October 27, 2026

The City of Waukesha Finance Committee met at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, in Council Chambers at Waukesha City Hall. A quorum was present. The committee approved a cooperative purchasing agreement, approved a non-binding TIF term sheet for an 84-unit residential development, and recommended the 2027 Operating Budget to the Common Council. All action items passed unanimously. Several Common Council members also attended during the budget discussion.

Consent Calendar

• The committee approved the October 15, 2026 Finance Committee minutes by unanimous consent with no changes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public addressed the committee.

Minnesota Cooperative Purchasing Venture Agreement

• City staff presented a proposed agreement with the Minnesota Cooperative Purchasing Venture. The Transit Manager said the city typically buys paratransit buses on the Minnesota state contract, and joining the venture would provide advantageous pricing without issuing a separate RFB.
• The venture is open to Wisconsin municipalities; more than 100 Wisconsin entities already participate, including WCTC, Waukesha County, La Crosse, Sheboygan, and Racine. Staff noted it also covers items such as lawnmowers and other materials.
• Staff said the city would likely save a significant amount by using the cooperative rather than running its own bid. The committee approved the agreement unanimously and recommended it to the Common Council.

TIF Term Sheet – 84-Unit Residential Development at Les Paul Parkway and Genesee Road

• City staff presented a non-binding term sheet for Horizon Development Group’s proposed 84-unit multifamily residential development at the southeast corner of Les Paul Parkway and Genesee Road.
• The site is adjacent to TID 28. It was formerly Wisconsin DOT right-of-way; after the bypass was completed, DOT vacated it and sold it to the adjacent property owners, the owners of Village at Fox River apartments.
• The request is for $2.7 million in TIF assistance, structured entirely as pay-as-you-go, with no upfront city funds or bonds. The developer would be repaid from future tax increment. Staff said the project value would be $17.3 million once completed and occupied, and that the criteria for TIF assistance were met. Payback was described as roughly 13 years.
• Developer Scott Kwisinski of Horizon Development Group described the layout: six two-story, slab-on-grade townhome-style residential buildings, plus a clubhouse; each unit would have a private entry and most would have garages. There would be no single-family structures, and the design would differ from the existing Village at Fox River apartments.
• Ald. Matthews, whose district includes the site, said the plan fits with the surrounding project and expressed support, noting wetlands would be preserved. Ald. Lemke asked why TIF was needed; the developer cited construction cost escalation, challenging topography, site grading and retaining walls, quality standards, and rent affordability. Staff noted the term sheet is non-binding and the project still requires Plan Commission rezoning, TID boundary/project plan amendment, joint review board approval, and a future development agreement.
• The committee approved the term sheet unanimously.

2027 Executive Operating Budget Review – General Government Departments

• City Administrator Tony Brown reviewed his office’s accomplishments: a balanced 2027 budget and a generally positive outlook for 2028, completion of the national citizen survey showing trust in local government exceeding state and federal levels, and about $30,000 in savings from consolidating communications functions. Goals for 2027 include department succession planning and ADA compliance for the website and communications.
• Budget variances in the City Administrator’s office included a roughly $22,000 increase in salaries and wages from compensation adjustments, a roughly $22,000 decrease in professional services because the citizen survey is not conducted next year and Citizens Academy costs were moved, and an $18,000 placeholder for parade memorial maintenance, reimbursed by the community foundation.
• The Mayor reviewed 2026 highlights, including the Mayor’s Monthly Minute video and work with other cities on municipal financial stability for the next state legislative session. For 2027, she requested a significant increase in memberships and training to rejoin the U.S. Conference of Mayors, citing the past NEA grant connection that launched Waukesha Reads and describing it as a training and networking opportunity. Ald. Matthews asked about the 15% increase in the office’s operating expenses; the driver was identified as the conference membership.
• Municipal Court Judge Lori Fabian, joined by Clerk Becky Ehrman, reported a year of transition after the passing of Judge Steve Wimmer, reserve judge service, and a council appointment and election. The court is working on transcripts of judgment and lien filings for unpaid zoning violations; more than 200 additional liens are expected to be filed, with about $130,000 potentially collected when properties are sold. The court was projected to receive about $975,381 this year but now expects roughly $910,336. Citation volume is down: 11,940 citations last year versus about 9,370 on track this year. The 2027 court budget includes increases in salaries and wages and health insurance.
• City Attorney Brian Running described a stable year with no staffing changes. His office worked with Planning on the new Chapter 22 zoning code, handles municipal court citations and circuit court appeals, and supports police and building inspection code enforcement. The office negotiated a significant reduction in its Westlaw legal research contract, now in the second year of a three-year contract with a 5% escalator. Outside counsel professional services are budgeted around $35,000 to $36,000, with spending on track to come in under budget. Inflation affected CLE travel lodging, but League of Wisconsin Municipalities training remains cost-effective.
• No amendments to the operating budget were offered by committee members or attending council members.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the October 15, 2026 minutes by unanimous consent.
• Unanimously approved the Minnesota Cooperative Purchasing Venture agreement and recommended it to the Common Council.
• Unanimously approved the non-binding TIF term sheet for the Les Paul Parkway and Genesee Road development and recommended it to the Common Council.
• Unanimously recommended that the Common Council adopt the 2027 Operating Budget as presented, with the general fund totaling $87,394,932.
• The meeting adjourned with no referrals.