David Crowley is proposing steep local tax increases and has offered few concrete policy fixes for affordability, leaving county services and residents to bear the costs of growing budget shortfalls.
David Crowley is running for governor while serving as Milwaukee County Executive and has framed his campaign as an antidote to “MAGA extremism.” That slogan is short and sharp, but it tells you very little about how he would handle taxes, transportation, or county finances. Voters deserve specifics, not slogans, especially when county budgets are strained.
On affordability, Crowley has talked about “permanent” relief but has rejected immediate measures like suspending the gas tax that would ease pain for working families. His public statements and materials lack proposals to roll back costly regulations such as minimum markup rules that can keep prices high. Without clear cost-cutting or reform proposals, promises of relief ring hollow to people paying more at the pump and for basics.
Locally, the price tag is already visible: Crowley’s administration is planning a 26 percent increase to the Milwaukee County property tax levy for 2027 over the 2026 rate. That jump will land hard on homeowners and small businesses still recovering from pandemic-era strains.
County officials say the shortfall isn’t small. The Office of the Comptroller projects a roughly $50.8 million budget gap for the upcoming cycle, a step up from last year’s roughly $46 million problem. Departments were asked to prepare for a $10 million across-the-board reduction, but those cuts are the kind that slice into services people rely on every day.
Public transit is in particularly bad shape, with a projected MCTS deficit of about $16 million next year. Leadership has floated a 25 percent service cut for 2027 unless new revenue appears, which would mean fewer buses, longer waits, and damaged commutes for working families. Simultaneously planning to redesign the network while slashing service risks making transit less usable for the riders who need it most.
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The county is also facing rising debt service from recent capital projects, which is pushing up the levy now. Officials note about a $12 million increase in the property tax levy this year to cover debt tied to the new forensic science center and a cultural museum. That kind of spending crowding out day-to-day operations is a warning sign for taxpayers who see their bills rise while basic services creak.
These pressures show up in real-world pain. In one Milwaukee suburb, a bar owner reported a property tax bill that jumped roughly $3,000 in a single year, translating to about $250 a month on a low-margin small business. That kind of increase can kill a local employer, force layoffs, or lead to higher prices for customers trying to keep a neighborhood staple open.
Crowley has said he wouldn’t roll back certain statewide policies, effectively signaling continuity with current Democratic priorities in Madison. That stance means the tax and utility pressures families face now would likely continue under his leadership instead of being actively reversed. For fiscal conservatives and many taxpayers, continuity on tax-heavy policies is cause for real concern.
County Executive David Crowley‘s budget office will hold the listening sessions in the final two weeks of August. The public meetings will outline the administration’s budget priorities and give residents an opportunity to share their own. The first meeting will be held Aug. 19 at the Kosciuszko Community Center, 2201 S. 7th St. The meeting the following week will be held at the Washington Park Senior Center, 4420 W. Vliet St.
Last year, county policymakers had to close an approximately $46 million gap. This year, the Office of the Comptroller is projecting a $50.8 million budget gap, as inflation pushes the cost to continue government programs as they currently operate beyond the expected revenue for the county. Crowley has already asked departments to prepare for a $10 million across-the-board spending reduction. Inadequate aid and shared revenue payments from the state of Wisconsin remain the primary challenge for the county, according to the administration.
MCTS faces an estimated $16 million budget deficit next year. President and CEO Steve Fuentes is proposing a 25% service cut in 2027 to stabilize service at a budget level that can be maintained without additional revenue. At the same time, the system is planning to redesign the bus network.
The county is currently projecting a $12 million increase in the property tax levy in 2026, most of which will go toward paying back the debt incurred for funding of the new Center for Forensic Science and Protective Medicine and the Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin.
Plainly put, voters should weigh whether a candidate who offers slogans instead of cost-saving plans is the right choice for a state battling higher taxes and strained services. The coming budget conversations will force real choices about priorities, borrowing, and what to cut. Milwaukee families and small businesses deserve clear answers about who pays and why before any candidate promises comfort without a plan.
