Milwaukee County supervisors have approved a $1.5 billion budget for 2027 despite discovering a $4.6 million shortfall caused by an automated budgeting error just one day before the vote.
The spending plan passed by 17 votes to one on Thursday, amid anger that the discrepancy had been identified more than two weeks earlier but was not disclosed to most board members until after County Executive David Crowley had been elected Wisconsin’s next governor.
Milwaukee County 2027 budget approved despite shortfall
The error was traced to an automated spreadsheet formula used during the preparation of the budget. County budget director Nicholas Sinram said it was not caused by artificial intelligence, but by incorrect calculations relating to airport operations.
Sinram told reporters that the problem was discovered on 20 October. He said officials had spent the following weeks examining possible ways to close the gap before informing the County Board.
“We choose to bring solutions to the board, not just problems,” he said, according to local reports.
But supervisors said the delay had left them with too little time to scrutinise the figures or consider alternatives before adopting the budget.
“This budget error is a major problem, loss of trust is worse,” supervisor Shawn Rolland said.
Steve Taylor, chairman of the board’s Finance Committee, said he had not been told about the error until Wednesday, despite the issue having been known within the county administration for more than two weeks.
“We literally have not gone one day into 2027, and we already have to solve a problem,” Mr Taylor said.
Officials identify possible ways to cover gap
The county administration has suggested using additional prescription drug rebates, money left over from completed capital projects and savings or surpluses in departmental budgets to address the shortfall.
Mr Taylor dismissed those proposals as possibilities rather than firm solutions. Supervisor LeeVan Roundtree, the only member to vote against the budget, questioned how an apparently balanced plan could contain such a substantial error at the point of adoption.
A spokesperson for Mr Crowley said there had been no cover-up, arguing that the error affected less than 0.3 per cent of the recommended budget and that officials had corrected the underlying formula before presenting options to the board.
The adopted budget includes spending on county parks, youth programmes, food assistance and community services. It also reduces the proposed property tax levy by nearly $700,000 and removes a planned pay-to-park scheme for county parks and lakefront areas.
Supervisors Jack Eckblad and Mr Rolland also secured unanimous approval for a transparency amendment. It requires the county’s Office of Strategy, Budget and Performance to report in January on how the error occurred, when it was discovered and how similar mistakes will be prevented.
The report must also explain how the $4.6 million gap will be closed while keeping the 2027 budget balanced. Mr Eckblad said supervisors could seek a formal audit if the review failed to answer their questions.
The amended budget now goes to Mr Crowley for approval. If he issues any vetoes, the County Board is due to consider them on 12 November.
