Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Waukesha public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
15 issues in taxes budget with medium priority
Voting machine replacement needed
The city's voting machines work fine, but the vendor is ending support and they'll become federally noncompliant. With polling places consolidated from 13 to 9, fewer machines will be needed — replacement is expected within a couple of years.
2027 Residential Garbage and Recycling Fees
The committee approved a resolution setting what homeowners will pay for garbage and recycling collection in 2027. The fees now go to the full council.
2027 Library Tax Exemption Certification
Members pushed for the updated plan to identify tax-exempt sites — schools, the post office, the YMCA, former Hope Center — that could be redeveloped as tax-generating housing, arguing the city can't grow its tax base otherwise.
Employee PTO, holiday, and retiree insurance policy changes
A volunteer time off policy would let library staff take time for community volunteering under defined rules. It now goes to the Library Board.
Council chambers audio-visual upgrade
The 2027 plan includes $270,000 to modernize council chambers AV equipment — better sound, cameras, displays, and a hearing-aid loop — serving both council meetings and municipal court.
AI Acceptable Use Policy
The library adopted new rules on how employees may use artificial intelligence at work — an early sign of how public institutions are grappling with AI. It will shape how staff handle information and serve patrons.
2027 Winter-spring Recreation Fees
The board approved the fall fees schedule. Most programs cost the same as last year, but the FoxTail 3K preschool program jumps 8% and before/after-school care rises a dollar a month — driven by staff wages.
Promotion raises and salary compression
Promotions now come with a 5–10% raise or placement at the minimum of the new range, fixing cases where new supervisors earned less than the people they manage. Committee members debated giving HR more discretion but kept the structure with a small exception clause.
2025 Transit Financial Audit Results
Fixed-route ridership fell 9% in early 2026 amid a 24% service-hour cut, but buses ran more efficiently per hour. MetroLift paratransit rides are up 15% — the highest since 2012.
Overnight odd/even parking rules
A proposal to enforce the city's odd/even overnight parking rules only from November 1 to April 1 failed after alders argued the change would cost about $12,000 in citation revenue, complicate street sweeping and emergency access, and confuse residents used to the simple year-round rule.
Property assessment Open Book
Property owners challenged their assessments, but the board upheld the assessor in every case heard. Homeowners and commercial owners alike must bring strong comparable-sales evidence — and 2025 sales couldn't be used this year because the 2025 reassessment relied on 2024 sales.
Bus farebox replacement
The city's 15-year-old fareboxes are failing and unsupported; new SPX Genfare units cost $94,922 with 80% federal funding. Riders paying cash still need exact change, and a fare increase above $2 is coming.
TID 13 termination and first-ever shortfall
The city's 23-year-old TID 13 — its first 'pay-go' district — is closing with a shortfall, the first in city history. The council voted to cover roughly $70,000 in unreimbursed staff costs from contingency funds.
2026-2027 Financial Assistance Program revisions
The program helping lower-income families pay for rec programs will now require full payment up front, with refunds after approval — a change meant to stop the department from losing money on unpaid balances. It served 445 families last year using only donations, not tax dollars.
Federal procurement policy for RAISE grant projects
A new 24-page policy is required to spend the RAISE grant studying pedestrian bridges over the bypass. It forces qualification-based consultant selection instead of cost-based, but only for federally funded projects.