MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Common Council voted Tuesday to override all of Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s budget vetoes, plus approved a new four-year contract for police officers.
Some of the amendments that will remain in next year’s budget include extra funding for the fire department, a 1% residency incentive increase for city employees, and expanded Sunday library hours.
Mayor Johnson with reaction to the council’s decision on WTMJ’s Point Taken:
“Do ​we ​really ​have ​an ​objective ​​system ​of ​checks ​and ​balances ​in ​the ​City ​of ​Milwaukee ​anymore? ​​And ​it ​appears ​to ​me ​that ​more ​and ​more ​that ​just ​really ​doesn’t ​seem ​to ​be ​the ​case,” said Johnson.
The council’s veto override will add about $9 million to the 2026 budget.
Alderman Peter Burgelis pushed for extra money to address the fire department’s aging fleet of vehicles.
“This city has spent years kicking the fire department’s equipment needs down the road. That approach has put our firefighters and our residents one mechanical failure away from disaster. That ends today,” said Burgelis.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee police officers have a new contract for the first time in three years.
The common council approved the four-year $50 million bargaining agreement that includes across-the-board wage increases, full retroactive pay for officers working between 2023 and 2025, a 15% compounded pay increase through 2026, and guarantees protection from furloughs of officers through at least 2028.
“I’m ​going ​to ​support ​this ​reluctantly,” said Alderman Mark Chambers. “​You ​know, ​my ​issue ​has ​always ​been ​the ​level ​of ​back pay, ​because ​that’s ​where ​the ​larger ​numbers ​come ​into ​play.”
Several council members abstained from voting, including Alderperson JoCasta Zamarripa.
“An ​over ​25% ​increase ​for ​the ​three ​top ​positions ​at ​the ​police ​union ​is ​outrageous ​and ​unacceptable ​to ​me,” said Zamarripa.
“Today’s Common Council vote is more than the approval of a contract,” said the Milwaukee Police Association, the union representing Milwaukee police officers, “It is a moment of recognition for the men and women who have stood on the front lines for this city through some of the hardest years in our department’s history.”
