Presenter outlines Racine State of the City 2026, pledges to drop Flock camera funding

The Presenter delivered Racine's 2026 State of the City address on Sept. 9, praising investments in schools, housing and community services while warning of fiscal and policy pressures from state and federal actions. The address touched on school referenda, neighborhood grants, lead service line replacements and regional rail planning.

"I will not include funding for flock cameras in the budget that I produce on October 5," the Presenter said, repeating an earlier commitment and urging the council to "stand with the residents and their legitimate privacy concerns." The presenter also asked the council to take a harder look at liquor licenses clustered in low-income neighborhoods.

The presenter credited federal and state funding for local projects, including a $40,000,000 grant tied to lead-service-line replacements and voter-approved school construction dollars. The address emphasized civic participation, noting a school referendum passed by five votes and urging residents to vote in coming elections.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn approved by voice vote; no roll-call votes were recorded.