The Wisconsin Policy Forum excels at explaining complex subjects, but even we have to pause for a second while trying to do justice to our longtime leader, Rob Henken. For 16 years, Rob served as president of our organization and during that time no one observed him more closely than we did as his employees. Yet we remain as mystified as everyone else in Milwaukee and the rest of the state about how he accomplished all that he did in his role. Continue reading…
October is budget brief season at the Forum, and this year was no exception. Our researchers were hard at work producing briefs to update Wisconsinites on initial budget proposals for the city and county of Milwaukee, and the city of Madison.
Our city of Milwaukee brief found that the city’s 2026 budget proposal showed how far it has come since 2022, when soaring pension costs and other fiscal challenges threatened to force “untenable budget cuts.” Four years later, an infusion of new revenue from a landmark state law allowed Mayor Cavalier Johnson to propose a budget that would increase fees and property taxes, but limit most impacts to city services. Yet despite the near-term reprieve, concerns remain for the years to come.
Our Milwaukee County brief found that its proposed 2026 budget avoided position cuts and service reductions in most departments. Still, County Executive David Crowley’s proposal called for a fare increase and spending cuts for transit riders and notable cuts for behavioral health services, coupled with the largest property tax increase in at least two decades. The county’s capital budget outlook was even more dire.
Finally, our city of Madison brief found Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway’s proposed budget for 2026 highlighted the city’s financial turnaround, increasing staffing and service levels while limiting the property tax increase to roughly the rate of inflation. A key contributor to this newfound stability was an infusion of property tax revenue, due to voter approval of a $22 million referendum in 2024. Yet despite this turnaround, a solid local economy, and strong property values, the city’s long-term finances are still fundamentally unbalanced.
Each fall, these briefs inform Wisconsinites about tax and spending plans and debates by our state and local policymakers. They make up a key piece of the Forum’s mission, and one we intend to uphold moving forward.
Our marquee annual event, the Salute to Local Government, is Wisconsin’s premier celebration of public sector excellence, and how it improves communities throughout our state. At our 33rd annual Salute on November 19, we welcomed more than 450 guests at Milwaukee’s Italian Community Center.
Salute awards recognized local governments and school districts for innovative problem-solving, and public-private cooperation. We also honored individuals in the public sector for excellence and lifetime achievement. Another award category, in partnership with UW-Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs, recognized innovative performance in state government.
Our featured speaker was Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow, who said Wisconsin’s historic commitment to localism has left the state with an abundance of local governments. In an era of increased fiscal pressures, Farrow made the case that a better model for service delivery could emerge through heightened collaboration between – and in some cases, full consolidation of – units of local government.
Congrats to all of this year’s winners – click here for a complete list of them, and to watch video vignettes recognizing them! Thanks also to our sponsors!
Our other public events in the fourth quarter — the two latest installments of our Forum Friday virtual webinar series – looked at some of the top challenges facing Wisconsin local governments in 2025.
Our October 17 Forum Friday focused on the growing trend of municipalities and counties holding referenda to address budget challenges. The state increased aid to municipalities and counties in 2023, but uneven distribution of those dollars, record inflation, and other factors mean that many municipalities and counties are now going to referendum to ask their residents to increase property taxes.
We talked about what that process was like for local leaders and what we can expect moving forward. Panelists for this event were: Monona Mayor Nancy Moore; St. Croix County Administrator Ken Witt; and Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza.
Our December 12 Forum Friday looked at the challenges facing fire and EMS responders throughout Wisconsin. Forum research has documented the mounting financial, staffing, and service-provision issues that these agencies are seeing. At our event, we discussed how those are affecting how these agencies are able to serve our communities, as well as some of the potential solutions.
Our panelists were Oshkosh Fire Chief Timothy Heiman; Tanya Reynen, Fire Chief/Emergency Manager for the city of Watertown; James Small, Rural EMS Outreach Program Manager, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; and Robert Whitaker, Fire Chief of the North Shore Fire and Rescue.
Our events in early 2026 will include our Annual Meeting on February 3. Stay tuned for more announcements on this and other upcoming Forum events!
Federal Funding Impacts on Housing: With major federal funding changes enacted or proposed, this research analyzes their possible effects on housing and homelessness services in Milwaukee County. The analysis also will examine how potential funding cuts, expansions, or other policy changes to federal programs could affect local housing efforts.
Local and State Options for Child Care Revenue: Following the Forum’s previous research on the difficult economics of early childhood education and care, this analysis responds to community questions about levers to increase revenue for child care. We will lay out the available mechanisms at the state and local level, analyze their tradeoffs, and consider their feasibility and potential impact.
Addiction Treatment in Jails and Prisons: This report focuses on the issue of providing medications for opioid disorders within jails in order to reduce overdoses, relapses, and recidivism after individuals’ release from detention. We will conduct a statewide survey to detail current policies and practices in Wisconsin’s jails and prisons, determine gaps, and identify opportunities for improving care for incarcerated individuals experiencing opioid use disorder.
Betty Brinn Children’s Museum: This report will assess the operational, financial, and programmatic needs of Milwaukee’s Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in light of the museum’s plans to relocate and expand. Examination of peer institutions nationally will provide additional context as we identify key insights and potential paths forward for museum leadership.
Milwaukee County Property Assessment: Previous Forum research has highlighted that Wisconsin is “fairly unique in conducting [property] assessments at the municipal level.” This report will explore opportunities for sharing property assessment responsibilities across the various municipalities within Milwaukee County, including consideration of whether such consolidation could increase assessment accuracy and efficiency.
 |
| Jim Archambo City Administrator jarchambo@wauwatosa.net |
The City of Wauwatosa is a full-service municipality serving a resident population of just under 50,000 – yet our daytime population more than doubles, positioning us as Wisconsin’s fourth-largest city during the day. We are proud to have strong economic assets such as the Milwaukee Regional Medical Campus, the state’s largest shopping destination at Mayfair Mall, multiple transportation corridors, and distinctive neighborhood and business districts. Our mission is to provide accessible services that enhance the quality of life across our community and region in ways that are inclusive, efficient, effective, and affordable.
How has your membership in the Wisconsin Policy Forum been a resource for you and your organization?
“Membership in the Wisconsin Policy Forum has been an invaluable resource for the City of Wauwatosa. We frequently rely on the Forum’s property tax charts and fiscal analyses to help us communicate complex financial information clearly to residents and elected officials. Their research provides credible information that supports our budgeting and long-term planning efforts. Most relevant right now is their work on shared fire and EMS services, which provides important context as we explore a potential collaboration and prepare for decisions before the Common Council. We also value opportunities to engage through events like Policy in a Pub, the annual awards, and staying up to date with insights on their website.”
February 3, 2026 | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
The Wisconsin Club City Club | Downtown Milwaukee
Members: $25 | Non-members: $35
Table of 10: $350
Registration is now open for the Wisconsin Policy Forum’s 2026 Annual Meeting on February 3 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the Wisconsin Club in Downtown Milwaukee (900 W. Wisconsin Avenue). Drinks and appetizers will be served.
We will review our 2025 results and 2026 research agenda, and install our slate of officers and directors. We’ll also hear a fascinating discussion from our panelists about the location of new data centers in our state to help power the global boom in artificial intelligence. Decisions about where to locate these facilities, as well as their resource usage, can be controversial, and our panelists will help us understand the pros and cons.
|
|
In these polarized times, we are especially grateful for the support of our members and sponsors. Thank you for reading our research, attending or tuning in for our events, participating in our committee meetings, and maintaining your membership with us.
We are supported by hundreds of corporations, nonprofits, local governments, school districts, and individuals from across the state of Wisconsin. The following members provide particularly generous support that ensures Wisconsin will continue to benefit from having one of the nation’s most successful nonpartisan, independent public policy research organizations.
