City of South Milwaukee Library Referendum

On April 7, 2026, City of South Milwaukee voters will be asked whether or not they support a $425,000 increase in the property tax levy going forward to restore services at the public library to pre-pandemic levels. 

The impact would be an increase of approximately $60 annually or $5 monthly for a City home assessed at $225,000.

Why Referendum?

The City of South Milwaukee is facing a critical decision about how to fund and sustain its library services. After years of operating within tight levy limits, the City has had to reduce the library’s budget in order to maintain vital services such as public safety, public health, and public works. 

The South Milwaukee Public Library now faces significant operating budget challenges, with a budget that has decreased by nearly 20% from 2019 to 2025.

The South Milwaukee Public Library is currently open the fewest hours of any library in Milwaukee County. The library was only open 2,288 hours in 2023 — 26.7% below the county median.

Without additional funding, the library will have to make further cuts to its operating hours, available materials, and library staff. 

Because of state-imposed levy limits, the City of South Milwaukee must ask for approval from taxpayers through a referendum to increase the tax levy to fund these services. Wisconsin’s levy limit laws prevent municipalities from adjusting property tax revenues to keep pace with inflation. Instead, annual levy increases are tied only to net new construction — a formula that generates very little additional revenue in established communities like South Milwaukee.

Library Services  in the City of South Milwaukee

The library has seen an uptick in circulation and program participants over the last five years. Between 2019 and 2025, the South Milwaukee Public Library’s total e-content use more than doubled from 12,370 to 28,840. 

Additionally, in 2024, the South Milwaukee Public Library offered 380 programs, which generated an attendance of 9,064 for City residents. 

Although usage of e-content resources has increased, South Milwaukee’s library collection is smaller than the County median, and new purchases have shrunk over the past several years due to budget constraints.

Between 2019 and 2023, the budget available for materials has decreased, causing new book and print volumes to decline by 9.8%, audio materials by 38.7%, and periodical subscriptions by 60.8%.

This scenario of rising costs and restricted revenue has forced disproportionate cuts to the library in recent years — and additional cuts would be required going forward. 

Based on the City’s current structure and funding mechanisms, a referendum would be required to fund the operational costs associated with restoring the library’s services to pre-pandemic levels.

If a Majority Vote "Yes"

If the referendum is approved by a majority of voters, the library will be able to restore services to pre-pandemic levels for City of South Milwaukee residents by increasing operating hours, improving available materials, and offering additional programming and services by hiring new staff. 

Hours of operation would be restored to pre-pandemic levels. The total number of hours the library is open each week would increase by 23%, from 44 to a projected 54 hours.

If a Majority Vote "No"

If the referendum does not pass, the City will have to make difficult decisions about the library’s future. This could mean eliminating staff positions, which will require further reductions to hours of operation and available programming and services, as well as cuts to the library’s budget for collections.

 The library would continue to operate with the fewest hours of any library in Milwaukee County, and would likely need to close at least one additional full day per week. The library’s available budget to purchase books, media, and periodicals would shrink further. As the cost of e-materials such as e-books and media continues to rise, there will be less funding available to purchase print resources. 

Staffing reductions would likely continue and could include eliminating two positions, decreasing available children’s and adult programming and overall support to patrons. Remaining staff would potentially not receive step increases, meaning they will not be able to receive any raises or additional compensation for their experience or performance.

Tax Impacts of the Library Referendum

If City residents approve the referendum, the estimated property tax impact would be $27 annually per $100,000 in assessed value, which for the median $225,000 home in South Milwaukee is about $60 per year. The total tax levy in 2026 would increase by $425,000, beginning with property tax bills issued in December 2026.

To find your home’s assessed property value, please visit the Milwaukee County Portal.

Learn More and Make an Informed Decision

More information will be shared with residents through direct mail and social media. This web page will continue to be updated with more information in the coming weeks. 

Resources that provide additional details about the referendum are linked below:

• Fact Sheet
• Frequently Asked Questions

The referendum question will appear on the Tuesday, April 7, 2026 ballot as follows: 

Under state law, the increase in the levy of the City of South Milwaukee for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2027, is limited to .317%, which results in a levy of $12,446,757. Shall the City of South Milwaukee be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2027, for the purpose of funding operations of the South Milwaukee Public Library, by a total of 3.415%, which results in a levy of $12,871,757, and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $425,000 for each fiscal year going forward?

For more information, email referendum@southmilwaukee.gov

Attend an Information Session

The City will be holding public information sessions for residents to learn more about the referendum and ask questions of local officials.

• Thursday, February 26 - 6:00 p.m.
• Monday, March 16 - 1:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 25 - 6:00 p.m.

All sessions will be held at the City of South Milwaukee Municipal Building (2424 15th Ave).

Vote April 7

City voters can cast their vote one of three ways: through absentee mail-in ballots, early in-person voting at the City Clerk’s office, or in-person voting on election day, April 7, 2026.

Voters can request a mailed absentee ballot from MyVote or the City Clerk’s office. You may request an absentee ballot be mailed to you until April 2, 2026, at 5 p.m.

If you plan to return your absentee ballot using the U.S. Postal Service, please remember that the ballot must be RECEIVED by the City Clerk's Office by the close of polls on election day, April 7, 2026. Absentee ballots may be returned to the City Clerk's Office on election day. Absentee ballots received after the close of polls will not be counted.

In-person early voting will take place at the City Administration Building (2424 15th Avenue, South Milwaukee, WI 53172). You may also request and vote via an absentee ballot in the Clerk’s office during the days and hours specified for casting an absentee ballot in person. 

In-person absentee voting will take place between March 24 and April 3 with the following hours:

• March 24-27, 2026: 7:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• March 30, 2026: 7:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• March 31, 2026: 7:45 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• April 1-2, 2026: 7:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• April 3, 2026: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• By appointment, if requested

On April 7, polling places will open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. Wisconsin voters are required to show an acceptable photo ID in order to vote. 

Additional voting information, including finding your polling place and requesting an absentee ballot, can be found on myvote.wi.gov. If you have further questions on voting, please contact the City Clerk at 414-768-7499.