David Crowley

David Crowley’s tenure as Milwaukee County Executive is marked by persistent fiscal instability, repeated tax increases, administrative failures, and controversial pandemic-era decisions. While Crowley presents himself as a reformer, his record reflects higher costs to taxpayers, reduced services, and a pattern of ideological policymaking with uneven results. Here’s what Crowley wants for Wisconsinites:  

Tax Increases

  • Proposed a $12 million property tax levy increase in the 2026 budget, even after a county sales tax increase, citing inflation and overtime costs
    Ashley Sears, “2026 Milwaukee County Budget Address; David Crowley Presents Plan,” FOX-Milwaukee, 9/30/25
  • Signed a 2025 budget with a 2.5% property tax levy increase
    “2025 Milwaukee County Approved; Tax Levy, Other Highlights To Know,” FOX-Milwaukee, 11/13/24
  • Recommended a 2.8% property tax increase, the highest percentage increase in 15 years
    Bill Miston, “2025 Milwaukee County Budget Proposal Revealed,” FOX-Milwaukee, 10/1/24
    Vanessa Swales, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/16/24
  • Endorsed a countywide sales tax and supported removal of a voter referendum requirement. Sales tax criticized as regressive and harmful to low-income Black residents.
    Sean Ryan, “Referendum Requirement Spurring Debate In Milwaukee Sales Tax Proposal,” Milwaukee Business Journal, 5/5/23
    Devin Anderson & Ryeshia Farmer, “Wisconsin’s Political Landscape Is Dangerous For Black People,” The Capital Times, 3/14/23

Budget Deficits

  • County projected a $46.7 million budget gap in the 2026–2030 forecast
    Vanessa Swales, “Supporting DEI And Maintaining Services. Takeaways From David Crowley’s State Of The County Speech,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/26/25

Crime and Lawlessness

  • Public discussion of “divesting from police” while acknowledging backlash to “defund” language
    Marquette Law School, “On The Issues: David Crowley,” YouTube, 6/10/20
  • Accusations of systemic racial profiling by Milwaukee police
    Ben Poston, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/3/11
  • Opposed deployment of federal officers during 2020 unrest
    Ashley Luthern & Mary Spicuzza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/23/20
  • Pushed back against a draft bill to require county law enforcement to help ICE identify illegal immigrants or face funding cuts.
    Vanessa Swales, “Milwaukee County Officials Slam GOP Bill Cutting Funds To Counties That Don’t Help ICE,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/5/25

Reduced Services for the Disabled

  • Proposed significant cuts to transit and paratransit in 2023 and 2026 budgets, later partially reversed after public backlash
    Vanessa Swales, “Milwaukee County Committee Votes To Restore Paratransit Taxi Service Funding,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/28/22

Climate Mandates

Voting Without ID

  • Crowley said Voter ID was disenfranchising voters in low-income areas and communities of color in Milwaukee and said it was “no different” from Jim Crow.
    Elizabeth Bayer, “Democrats battle voting hurdles with stepped up canvassing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin State Journal, 3/15/20

Unconstitutional Mask and Vaccine Mandates

  • Issued COVID vaccine mandate via administrative order, later criticized as unconstitutional by a Democratic state lawmaker
    Rich Kremer, “Debate Over Covid-19 Response Surfaces As Early Issue In Wisconsin Governor’s Race,” Wisconsin Public Radio, 9/11/25
  • Continued transit mask mandate after federal rule struck down
    Christina Van Zelst, FOX-Milwaukee, 4/19/22
  • Approved $6 million FEMA-funded COVID jail facility used for only two weeks, then sat empty for over two years.
    Vanessa Swales, “$6 Million Was Spent To Create A House Of Correction COVID-19 Care Facility. Now It Sits Empty,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/16/22

Abortion for All

  • Crowley celebrated the Wisconsin Supreme Court decision striking down the state’s 1849 Abortion Law.
    Jason Calvi, “Wisconsin Abortion Ban, Court Strikes Down 1849 Law,” Fox-Milwaukee, 7/2/25