Milwaukee County discloses budget error after Crowley elected governor

Milwaukee County discloses budget error after Crowley elected governor Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors adopts budget with error and amedment for explanation Advertisement Updated: 8:24 AM CST Nov 6, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Denise Craig Milwaukee County discloses budget error after Crowley elected governor Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors adopts budget with error and amedment for explanation Updated: 8:24 AM CST Nov 6, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Denise Craig MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County's proposed 2027 budget counts on $4.56 million in savings that never existed because of an automated calculation error, officials said Wednesday. The news came a day after County Executive David Crowley was elected Wisconsin governor . In a Nov. 4 memo to County Board leaders , the county's budget office said the administration plans to offset the gap during 2027 and bring a fund transfer to the board for approval by the end of March. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel was the first to report on the memo. Advertisement Milwaukee County executive proposes budget with 2.55% tax levy increase, drop in tax rate The error occurred in a newly automated process used to allocate equipment purchases and depreciation. The memo says positive and negative signs were reversed on two airport-related entries: a $4.49 million depreciation contribution and $2.21 million in airport revenue. A spokesperson for the county executive's office said Crowley is aware of the error. Once it was identified, the Office of Strategy, Budget and Performance "acted immediately" to correct the issue and prevent it from happening again, the spokesperson said. The budget office and county comptroller identified possible ways to cover the gap, including additional prescription drug rebates, cash remaining in capital projects scheduled to close in 2027 and savings or surpluses in departmental operating budgets. The memo does not specify how much each option would contribute. "The County Executive is confident the issue is resolved and that Milwaukee County will end 2027 with a balanced budget," the spokesperson told WISN 12 News. WISN 12 News reached out to governor-elect Crowley's campaign. They declined to comment. The County Budget Director Nick Sinram said in an interview Thursday "We conducted an investigation over the last couple of weeks and we determined that we needed to update the board, after coming up with solutions." Amended budget approved On Thursday, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted 17-1 to adopt the amended 2027 county budget, advancing investments in community services, food access, parks, youth programs and employee health while reducing the proposed property tax levy by $695,157. The amended budget has been sent to the county executive for approval. If the county executive issues any vetoes, the board will convene at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 12 to consider them. The county board also passed an amendment calling for an explanation of the $4.5 million accounting error in the transportation budget, requiring the budget director to deliver a report next month. Make WISN a preferred source on Google Add Preferred Source Share Infinite Scroll Enabled Top Picks 19-year-old to become of Massachusetts' youngest representatives in state history Dramatic video: Mother rescues man drowning 'We brought him home': A WWII soldier killed 82 years ago has finally been laid to rest New video shows NTSB investigators recovering Learjet wreckage pieces from Florida crash crater