The department typically operates at about 75% of capacity due to position vacancies, medical leaves, training and other absences. As city officials prepare to adopt a 2027 budget next month, police administrators say hiring bonuses are money well spent.
The city's $15 fee, sometimes referred to as a "wheel tax," has been in place since 2025. When combined with the state and county fees, the total registration fee could increase from $130 to $135.
Yard waste collection was one of two lingering issues that dominated the council's debate before it voted, 12-3, to approve the 2026 budget. The other primary debate was over an ongoing city subsidy for Bublr Bikes.
Under Wauwatosa's current policy, the department does not collect any payments directly from patients who live in Milwaukee County after seeking insurance reimbursement.
