Crowley’s Latest Tax and Fee Increases Show Why He Opposes Ending the Governor’s Partial Veto Power to Raise Taxes and Fees
MILWAUKEE, WI – David Crowley’s newly released 2027 Milwaukee County budget calls for a 2.6% increase in the county property tax levy while piling on higher fees for parking, rental cars, the Milwaukee County Zoo, parks, and Medical Examiner services.
David Crowley is proposing a series of new and increased fees that would make everything from renting a car at the airport to taking the family to the zoo or the lakefront more expensive.

Among the increases in Crowley’s proposed budget:
Park parking fees: Crowley is introducing paid parking at high-demand locations, including certain parks and the lakefront, ranging from $2 to $5, along with increases to various golf, pool, picnic, pavilion, marina, special-event, and recreation fees (Page 339).
Airport rental car fees: A 300% increase, from $0.50 per day to $2.00 per day (Page 266).
Airport parking fees: Daily parking increases from $18 to $19, hourly parking doubles from $2 to $4, and valet parking increases from $28 to $29 per day (Page 266). This comes after David Crowley already signed off on a $3 fee for Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare passengers being dropped off at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, on top of the existing $3 pickup fee.
Milwaukee County Zoo fees: Car parking increases from $15 to $17 and bus parking from $20 to $22. The budget also institutes a new $2.99 online ticket purchase fee and a $3.99 ticket exchange fee (Pages 354 and 361).
Medical Examiner fees: Referral-county autopsy and external examination fees increase by $300 per case. Death certificate fees increase from $168 to $172, cremation permits from $393 to $402, and body transportation fees from $168 to $172 (Page 259).

“David Crowley’s answer is always the same: spend more, tax more, and charge taxpayers more,” said Tom Tiffany. With David Crowley, the taxes keep going up and the fees follow you to the grave, with higher charges to drive, fly, park, and even be cremated. Wisconsin families are already paying too much. They cannot afford David Crowley making state government more expensive too.”
The contrast in the race for governor is clear. Tom Tiffany has proposed returning Wisconsin’s $3 billion surplus to taxpayers, ending the 400-year property tax increase, and cutting state income taxes by 10% for working families.

David Crowley wants to preserve the governor’s unchecked power to raise taxes and fees so he can take his Milwaukee County tradition of higher taxes and fees straight to Madison.