The African American Roundtable (AART) is speaking out after Milwaukee officials held a Joint Public Budget Hearing on Monday to allow public comment for the proposed 2025 budget. 

The group said that the 2025 budget, once again, fails the people of Milwaukee and criticized the city for it being “more of the same.” AART also highlighted the fact that residents who testified at the hearing said that the city should invest more in mental health, youth employment, libraries, affordable housing, youth community spaces, and community agencies like the ones listed on its asset map.

“This budget, again, fails to meet our demands. The mayor continues to lead us down the path of over-policing as the solution rather than making real investments in our neighborhoods. We hope the Common Council rejects this budget and instead funds the people,” said Devin Anderson, AART’s Campaign and Membership Director.

Markasa Tucker-Harris, AART’s Executive Director, said, “When George Floyd and Breonna Taylor were murdered, city officials rode the same fake wave and pretended to be interested in the residents' demands for participatory budgeting. When the city was given an opportunity to do something different with the windfall of funding that came through the American Rescue Plan Act, instead of using this unprecedented opportunity to fund participatory budgeting, the mayor quickly pivoted to plugging budget holes instead of doing something innovative and creative that involved residents. When will someone in this city truly stand up for residents and their needs, versus the professional resume-building and political will of those who fund them?” 

Common Council President José G. Pérez and Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic recently announced their plan to invest $1.75 million in remaining American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds in Milwaukee, and AART encourages them to implement participatory budgeting to let residents decide how those funds are spent. The Common Council has an opportunity to empower residents and create real change.

AART will continue rallying for participatory budgeting and more community funding this budget cycle. The group encourages Milwaukee residents unhappy with the current budget to contact the Milwaukee Common Council and invites anyone who wants to get involved to join them by visiting liberatemke.com.