Milwaukee Board adopts $1.49 billion FY27 budget after debate, 8–1

The Milwaukee Board of School Directors voted 8–1 to adopt the superintendent’s proposed fiscal year 2026–27 budget, including a school operations recommendation of $1,494,206,262 and related construction and extension fund requests.

Superintendent Wanda Cassellius told the board the proposal follows months of community engagement and adjustments intended to reduce a prior deficit and target funding to classrooms. "This budget represents months of planning and thoughtful consideration of how to best serve all of our MPS students," Cassellius said, noting actions that reduced the district’s prior $45.6 million shortfall and lowered the vacancy adjustment to about $34 million.

The administration described a mix of cost-cutting and targeted investments: central office savings of $18.2 million, an approximately $30 million saving from a strategic reduction in force, decreases in purchased services and contracts, and restoration or addition of instructional positions in response to community and student input. The budget provides a 2.63% cost-of-living adjustment split into a 1.5% increase on July 1 and 1.13% on Jan. 1, expands options for paraprofessionals to move to 40-hour schedules, and funds critical-need allocations (classroom positions, social workers, nurses, counselors and psychologists) the administration quantified at about $18.7 million.

Cassellius also described new investments in the community school model: an added $3 million to the MKE recreation budget, funded from Fund 80, that the administration said raises the district mill rate from 9.80 to 9.86 and creates 11 positions to support community-school operations.

Board members asked detailed questions about the revisions that followed public and student input. Student delegate Mateo Dela Cruz asked how community feedback shaped the changes; the superintendent pointed to the budget supplement presented the prior week and cited restored assistant principal roles in middle and high schools, additions to arts staffing at specific campuses, and expanded paraprofessional schedules as examples.

Director Reza pressed administration on special education staffing, noting a change in counted special-education classroom FTEs reported from 143 to 110. Jennifer Mims Howell, chief academic officer, said the figures reflect the district’s standard-of-care calculations for classrooms and that she would provide additional data on students awaiting evaluations and compensatory services. MPS reported IEP compliance at 98.9%.

The secretary read the budget resolutions that accompany the proposal: $1,494,206,262 for the operations fund, $1,994,600 for the construction fund, and $39,566,422 for the extension fund, with statutory citations included in the resolution language.

Before the final adoption vote, the board waived a rule to give immediate consideration to the budget (motion by Director O'Halleran, second by Director Jackson); that procedural motion passed with eight ayes and one abstention from Director Reza. The final motion to adopt the FY27 budget was moved by Director O'Halleran and seconded by Director Venoy. On roll call, eight directors voted aye and Director Reza voted no; the motion passed.

Votes at a glance
- Resolution authorizing issuance of revenue anticipation notes (short-term borrowing authority): moved by Director O'Halleran, seconded by Director Venoy; passed 9–0 after explanation from Joshua Benson of the City Comptroller’s office and a presentation from CFO Icha Sava.
- Acceptance of independent hearing officers’ reports (student expulsions): passed on roll call, 9–0.
- Waiver of rule 1.08 to allow immediate consideration of the budget: passed 8 ayes, 1 abstain (Director Reza).
- Adoption of FY26–27 budget inclusive of resolutions: passed 8 ayes, 1 no (Director Reza).

What the budget means next
Board members and district officials emphasized the near-term priority of protecting classrooms and literacy initiatives while acknowledging longer-term fiscal challenges. Administration and board members said the district faces a projected multiyear structural gap and will continue pursuing state aid, contract controls, and tighter budgetary oversight to preserve school investments.

The meeting concluded with members thanking staff for prioritizing students and programs; Chair Zumber adjourned the session following the vote.