[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6589011,"mediaKeyId","5459547-c775cc788c19821c648545c469b2874e","parentId",5459547,"title","Preliminary 2026–2030 capital plan shows $125 million shortfall; bonding cap limits 2026 availability to about $71 million","audioSeconds",1152,"startMs",2892000,"endMs",4044000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5459547-c775cc788c19821c648545c469b2874e&start=2892&end=4044","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5459547-c775cc788c19821c648545c469b2874e/thumbnail_2892000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6589011/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Preliminary-20262030-capital-plan-shows-125-million-shortfall-bonding-cap-limits-2026-availability-to-about-71-million","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589011-ad3ccb263df249b57f8ee50b66c80529/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457499&Signature=ey3hmIwsNxE2BYZ6WzyNvqyPuNC~7eKW3h1vESDUfTTxrltXOAYtVcHHSfx5aJWbJ6fQyMEe3Qc22oksh4mueCtGnTLrUw98NIPI5jnw8BTqScdVMeCcDlDQqJNdjhpmcZekmiJqNtbsWiZY5zimAHhoLfNbMeZTqfxSutLPGKzB3QcZzMMVJQa3lqMNHo0xdRBaSOIiISspsVH3uPFlBQhOTjEq2qkEd3sg1gl3bZ0XzSRI4wjswg3WGluhxPwMne0oPWh8K4rAZmw8Ui7Bl-tHZzTSPjRfeiF8HbOim~tJcXIwrTtx6ZGQgC4Odncl7knZeWLIuNWOh8XgvMxVaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Milwaukee County","date","2025-07-23T00:00:00Z","article","County budget staff presented an informational overview Aug. 19, 2024, of preliminary financing goals and departmental capital requests for the 2026–2030 capital improvements plan.

Staff said the county'9s bonding cap policy limits growth in non‑airport general obligation bonds to no more than 3% over the prior year. Using a base 2025 bonding amount of about $55.2 million, staff calculated a 2026 bonding cap of about $56.8 million and a 20% cash goal of roughly $14.2 million, for total estimated county financing of about $71 million for non‑airport capital projects.

The initial set of departmental requests totals roughly $196 million for 2026, producing an estimated shortfall of approximately $125 million (about $63 million in bonding shortfall and about $62 million in cash shortfall). Staff noted that a significant share of requests are ongoing or mandated projects and that those items alone put pressure on the available cap.

Examples of large ongoing and new requests cited by staff include the Bayview revetment (about $18 million), the Woodnoll Golf improvements (irrigation and curb paths), zoo front entrance construction, Washington Park service yard construction, and a multi‑year fleet and vehicle replacement program that the presentation estimated at about $7 million for 2026. Staff said the Bayview and the fleet program together absorb roughly 21% of the available bonding cap for 2026.

Staff also flagged major proposed projects under consideration that would materially affect future bonding capacity, including an estimated $474 million new courthouse complex and a possible $30 million package for the Mitchell Park Domes, both cited as potential binding cap overages if adopted.

Transit officials did not submit bus replacement requests for 2026, staff said, because a new EPA engine mandate is producing major changes in bus engine design; transit told the county it will defer purchases one year to avoid first‑generation problems and improve reliability.

Staff provided a high‑level breakout of bond‑eligible and cash‑funded projects, noting that bond proceeds are limited by federal and state rules to certain eligible project types and that nonbondable projects must be financed with county cash or other sources such as grants or private contributions.

The committee was briefed on the five‑year capital improvement plan (CHIP) as a planning tool: the first year (2026) is the actionable budget year while years 2–5 are planning years and estimates in those years are conceptual and subject to change. Staff said the subcommittee will complete project scoring and circulate results; departments will then have an opportunity to present testimony at the next CIC meeting before final advisory recommendations are made.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Milwaukee County - Capital Improvements Committee on 2025-07-23 10:00 AM - HYBRID MEETINGThis meeting will be held in Room 203-R, and will be live-streamed on the County Legislative Information Center: https://milwaukeecounty.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx - Jul 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff told the committee that available county bonding and cash for 2026 is roughly $71 million while project requests total about $196 million, producing an estimated shortfall of approximately $125 million; large items and mandated projects already consume much of the cap.","taxTitle","Milwaukee County, Wisconsin","taxId",2736,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6589015,"Facilities steering committee recommends most projects but defers some senior‑center and Willow Way work for further review",807,2063000,2870000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5459547-c775cc788c19821c648545c469b2874e&start=2063&end=2870","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5459547-c775cc788c19821c648545c469b2874e/thumbnail_2063000.jpg","/articles/6589015/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Facilities-steering-committee-recommends-most-projects-but-defers-some-seniorcenter-and-Willow-Way-work-for-further-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589015-f5fbb2be7224e0c840623841508a06b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457499&Signature=jv2uTqCwX94brP3Yf5D4H7pc6MIGhn~2pSrDIJyZhqyMNALUFcb9531~vvb21k23opmrIC1OBGfx0fzGmnfpFotQZcTId01vzYYHNYnAXvcNOFHMMJbKMZH-YEYVhV27zVEJ~kZhvqitCdKXRHsKLExKIC5iVig1XFILqGA09CTrU1fxb7op2RUShnw~UlpSqn2diwkXW9u-qTHEr-HfHQxN~eKEPpj5GR4qdU7dKcpz3xX2W8oMbJq0dpl2c~eYK2JvncAFNvHM1~HZHMkcLdyH7EuwXhopFJf8FJX9~RNxAv3CZl-jh5bH8X39y9c0R3pyTPrHotydm-GbsxbYYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Peter Nellis, director of facilities planning in the Department of Administrative Services, presented an informational report Aug. 19, 2024, summarizing the county facilities planning steering committee'9s review of 2026 facility‑related capital requests.

Nellis told the Capital Improvements Committee the steering committee reviewed 192 projects, excluded technology‑only and Department of Transportation highway projects from its facility scoring, and scored 152 projects that affect the county'9s physical facility footprint. Most projects reviewed were recommended as aligned with the county'9s facility strategy, he said, but several projects tied to Willow Way and some senior‑center facilities were not recommended at this time because of ongoing strategic discussions about those facilities.

\"This year'9s list of projects included both projects related to ... the evaluation of the 2026 capital requests,\" Nellis said, and he offered to work with county staff to produce a more formal response about timing and the rationale for the recommendations.

Supervisors raised concerns and asked for additional transparency and a clear timeline. One supervisor said withholding recommendations for senior centers and Willow Way would come as a surprise to supervisors who represent districts with those facilities and asked when a more formal discussion would be scheduled. Another supervisor emphasized that senior‑center programming should be preserved and asked how programs would be sustained if facilities are not prioritized for capital work.

Committee members suggested the CIC could receive additional information at its next meeting in August to set the table for a fuller discussion in the September cycle. Nellis said he would work with county staff to prepare a formal response to supervisors'9 questions.

Nellis also noted that some projects were excluded from the steering committee'9s scoring because they do not affect building footprints (for example, strictly technology projects) or because they fall under other review jurisdictions, such as the highway division.

The item was informational; no committee action was taken on Aug. 19.","A facilities planning steering committee review found most 2026 facility capital requests aligned with county strategy but flagged projects at Willow Way and certain senior centers for additional discussion; several supervisors asked for greater transparency and a timeline for decisions.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6589020,"Committee votes to treat critical bus and fleet replacements as a priority in 2026 capital scoring",703,1357000,2060000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5459547-c775cc788c19821c648545c469b2874e&start=1357&end=2060","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5459547-c775cc788c19821c648545c469b2874e/thumbnail_1357000.jpg","/articles/6589020/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Committee-votes-to-treat-critical-bus-and-fleet-replacements-as-a-priority-in-2026-capital-scoring","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589020-446b2498ca56cbd672ddfa194e34092c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457499&Signature=Aby7ePOHXMsaOgXYG3clCEmvkn~Jb98kyALI0rDasFgq3anJyq7zzpSRV-MXockkcAFCE1FGzFZi0Hc4gCCOT0vx4g0l6TjA0WMHIfxQ3MDjkIrt9~akCt0LtMX1eGQztvN3MjpqvzstT0XCboolVZ1srH0e0ndfzsrwkxGcqo5NPQJxgFD0FC~MTbnqKsXDng50g73562CF42ZMDbn4Ewe248f2Y8p-RDlAxh-X1TEQqqAWlZgBiYdP3o89Qd6wkZYdihEvxDNqAR25VQsHxRVjA8gr~eSW6pqTW2vuY0UU5tmPzztA1rNyZJQDoehA0FsNjCHlKXgUmRouQgd5eA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Milwaukee County Capital Improvements Committee voted Aug. 19, 2024, to establish a dedicated carve‑out in its 2026 capital scoring report so that critical bus and fleet vehicle replacements are prioritized before the remainder of the project pool.

On a motion by Committee member Rolland, seconded by Mayor McBride, the committee approved Option 1, which would treat only \"critical replacements\" (vehicles and buses essential to maintaining existing service levels) similarly to mandated or continuing projects. The motion carried 7 ayes, 0 noes.

Supporters said the change would reduce repeated annual disruptions to the scoring process, when bus and fleet requests historically push other highly scored projects — such as parks improvements — off the funded list. \"Those replacements just need to be in there,\" Rolland said, arguing that starting the cycle with fleet needs prevents later, disruptive reshuffling.

Mayor McBride, who seconded the motion, said preserving transit capacity supports work and health‑care access in the region and that prioritizing buses and fleet helps preserve mobility for residents who rely on public transit.

County administration staff from the Office of Strategy, Budget and Performance said they and the Department of Transportation support the carve‑out. An administration representative described the current process as \"pretty disruptive to the CIC process\" and said starting with bus and fleet requests would allow the committee to evaluate required amounts within the bonding cap rather than repeatedly inserting those costs later in the cycle.

Staff presentations to the committee noted tradeoffs and fiscal constraints. The staff estimate presented to the committee said excluding bus and fleet requests from the bonding cap and adding them on top could create an additional $16 million to $22 million in annual borrowing needs and raise total debt‑service obligations by about $108 million over the repayment period. The committee voted to absorb bus and fleet requests within the county'9s existing bonding caps and to limit the carve‑out to critical replacements; expansion or new‑service vehicle requests will continue to go through standard scoring.

The committee directed staff to reflect the carve‑out in the subcommittee'9s scoring and include the fleet and bus requests in the next CIC scoring report so departments and members can review them during the second meeting in the budget cycle.","The Capital Improvements Committee voted 7–0 to adopt a dedicated carve‑out so critical bus and fleet replacements are prioritized in the initial capital scoring and treated like mandated or continuing projects.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6589025,"Milwaukee County committee reviews revised capital project scoring and design‑first approach",1222,138000,1360000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5459547-c775cc788c19821c648545c469b2874e&start=138&end=1360","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5459547-c775cc788c19821c648545c469b2874e/thumbnail_138000.jpg","/articles/6589025/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Milwaukee-County-committee-reviews-revised-capital-project-scoring-and-designfirst-approach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589025-bb89ef343ed2bdf0688c8711f2d63d3f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457499&Signature=VCtE0I9tfchegES9EM~Z7Caz-GdWIs5B43Zc33~giIwDGrLEmYAMK3CrGtltrkpQ~SjoNVoZxol28U0wrvMtg2L3IssGKDJraD-w-JnzeXhZhBNk6j7Lv7fyp1-H86N-40Tl55AhRIfbWq7fagMoT8IG9d~LL-Is1h7ga3VgUb9aXMeTOtSCh~B9-VKrVF7azFO8ym3z2M1DCAlKp0Z4-woCknaHtOwlFexYRMBaoZHRdOyBXp7XbumMZZHkXYAd7V0hVqLq6pPikP4~m2QpBvd4SZVxw29rWK47par-1qlm8awTeXJd1heYyPIrLZms4oCuSC-HeU3rwM9o-sricg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Milwaukee County\u00045Capital Improvements Committee members reviewed an informational presentation Aug. 19, 2024, on the committee'9s capital project scoring criteria and the use of a design‑first approach in capital budgeting.

The presentation, delivered by a capital improvements staff member, summarized how the committee'9s quantitative scoring matrix assigns points for safety (including a cybersecurity subcomponent), policy and plan compliance, operational impacts (net operating cost, deferred maintenance and ADA issues), non‑county funding, program continuity, racial equity and a newly added climate action component. The staff member said the scoring data is intended to guide — but not replace — policymakers'9 qualitative judgment when the county executive and county board develop the annual capital budget.

The scoring system uses a department ranking multiplier that each requesting department assigns; subcommittee impact points are then applied against that multiplier to produce a composite score. The racial equity measure relies on the latest U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data for the project zip code if departments do not supply service area demographic estimates. The building mission category is maintained in the county'9s VFA facility assessment system by Facilities Management Division staff.

“Pursuant to Milwaukee County Ordinance, the CIC is responsible for . . . establishing the capital project scoring criteria and the prioritization of capital projects,” the presenter said, describing how the subcommittee'9s scores are shared with committee members, the county executive and the county board.

Staff emphasized the committee'9s recent additions: a racial‑equity measure added in 2019, a building mission category, and a 2024 board‑adopted climate action component. Committee members were told they could request further narrative or departmental testimony at the CIC'9s second meeting to inform qualitative judgment beyond the numeric scores.

The presentation also laid out the committee'9s design‑first guidance: for most projects, design appropriations should be made in one year and construction appropriations in a subsequent year after a design of at least 90% is complete. The staff member said that completing design before construction reduces the risk of scope changes and high contingency costs, improves cost estimating accuracy and prevents funds from being locked into underdesigned projects.

Staff noted exceptions can be made for lower‑risk projects (for example, playground equipment) or for work addressing immediate life‑safety issues. Departments were encouraged to attend the committee'9s second meeting to present additional information; no action was taken on the item during the Aug. 19 meeting.

The CIC staff said the subcommittee continues scoring work through late July and August, with a second meeting for departmental testimony and a final meeting for advisory recommendations to the county executive and county board.","The Capital Improvements Committee reviewed its scoring criteria for the 2026–2030 capital improvements plan, including new climate and racial‑equity factors and a ‘design‑first’ approach intended to reduce contingency costs and improve cost accuracy.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Preliminary 2026–2030 capital plan shows $125 million shortfall; bonding cap limits 2026 availability to about $71 million

Facilities steering committee recommends most projects but defers some senior‑center and Willow Way work for further review

Committee votes to treat critical bus and fleet replacements as a priority in 2026 capital scoring

Milwaukee County committee reviews revised capital project scoring and design‑first approach