News Details

October 26, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City of Oshkosh 2027 Budget Introduced to Common Council
Minimal increase in City tax rate despite external challenges

The City of Oshkosh will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2027 budget on October 27, 2026. The Common Council is scheduled to consider the proposed budget for adoption on November 17, 2026.

The proposed 2027 budget continues the organizational and operational improvements initiated in 2025 and expanded throughout 2026. The budget prioritizes maintaining essential community services, improving the public’s experience when working with City government, and supporting the City’s long-term financial stability.

Rising personnel and operating costs, infrastructure needs, and limited revenue growth continue to require difficult choices. In developing the budget, City staff evaluated vacancies, position reallocations, department requests and service-delivery practices to manage costs and direct resources to the areas of greatest need.

The budget reallocates funding from the vacant Police Records Supervisor position to a detective in the Criminal Investigative Division. “Redirecting this existing resource strengthens investigative capacity and helps the department respond to changing demands, including the growing need to address fraud and protect vulnerable residents, such as our children and senior residents,” stated Dean Smith, Oshkosh Police Chief.

The budget also consolidates related code-enforcement responsibilities to create a more coordinated and consistent experience for residents working with multiple City departments. Sara Rutkowski, Community Development Director, stated, “Community Development is excited to bring related code enforcement efforts together to make the process easier and more consistent for residents. This approach will emphasize education and communication first, while clarifying follow-through, reducing handoffs between City functions, and reserving citations for situations where voluntary compliance is not achieved.”

The proposed budget also supports continued investment in streets, utilities, parks, and City facilities. Priorities funded by this budget include major water and wastewater improvements, lead service line replacements, and flood mitigation strategies.

During development of the 2027 budget, the City was notified of an unexpected $500,000 reduction in the State’s Municipal Services Payment, which reimburses the City for police, fire/EMS, and other eligible services provided to state-owned facilities. The State did not fully fund the calculated entitlement under this program, leaving the City to absorb a significant portion of the costs associated with serving state-owned properties that are exempt from local property taxes.

Budget projections were updated after the Wisconsin Department of Revenue finalized the City’s manufacturing assessed values, which had been delayed due to a pending manufacturer appeal. The finalized manufacturing value is approximately $33 million lower than the estimate used during the budget workshops, resulting in a rate of $7.95 per $1,000 of assessed value, increased from the originally proposed $7.91.

The proposed budget includes a property tax levy increase with limited effect on the City tax rate. The recommendation seeks to balance taxpayer affordability with the need to sustain reliable services and address ongoing operating and infrastructure costs.

“Despite the challenges created by incomplete State funding of the Municipal Services Payment and continued cost increases, City staff developed a budget that supports the organization’s priorities and long-term goals,” said Oshkosh City Manager Rebecca Grill. “The budget also reflects ongoing efforts to realign services, maintain high-quality service delivery, and keep a strong focus on the customer experience. I appreciate staff’s thoughtful work and dedication throughout the budget process.”

For more information: https://www.oshkoshwi.gov/BudgetFinancials/2027Budget.aspx