Oshkosh Common Council Approves 2026 Budget: Sets Tax Levy

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WISS) – The Oshkosh Common Council approved the 2026 $235 million budget Tuesday night. The vote also set the tax levy mill rate at $7.77 per $1000 of assessed property value.

The tax levy mill rate is 4 cents higher than initially discussed at last week’s budget hearing due to updated information from the state of Wisconsin.

Budget Details

Oshkosh City Manager Rebecca Grill said the tax levy mill rate was adjusted from $7.73 per $1000 of assessed property value to $7.77 due to receiving the finalized manufacturing values from the State of Wisconsin. She adjusted the tax levy, because those numbers were lower than anticipated. 

The new levy is still 37 cents lower than last year’s tax levy. Grill said based on the average home value in Oshkosh of $225,000, a property owner will see approximately a $84.19 reduction in the city portion of their property taxes.

Council reaction

Mayor Matt Mugerauer  thanked Grill and the finance staff for working all year to bring forward what he called a fair and balanced budget. “(It’s a budget) that moves us forward in many, many ways, whether it’s economically, whether it’s through our quality of life assets, or investing in our people.”

Council Member Floam said the efficiencies in the new budget impressed him.

“Personally, I view this budget as one of the first steps in a larger efficiency drive for the city of Oshkosh. We know that a lot of families are cash-strapped. A lot of families who work in this city are living paycheck to paycheck. And for us as a city, we should be as we should be as responsible as we possibly can be with that while making the necessary investments and delivering on the services that our residents require and expect from their tax dollars,” Floam said. “So, I think this is a great start for that. We have a lot more work to do, but I’m impressed by what staff was able to do with this budget, trying to stretch it out as far as you can go, and ensuring that the property taxes that our citizens pay are put to a very good use.”

Deputy Mayor Joe Stephenson said, “ We were all nervous about this budget. I think coming into this year. I thought it was gonna be a huge success if we just came in and property taxes stayed level. Didn’t go up at all. Or went up by a little bit. And instead, we came in with a reduction!”

In Other Action

The Common Council voted to approve an ordinance that restricts bikes and E-bikes on sidewalks where a building abuts the sidewalk. The vote brings the discussion of E-bikes in and around the city, specifically on the sidewalks along Main Street, to a close. 

Floam said the ordinance is not perfect. “ But I think it’s definitely a good start. It helps people still enjoy the use of e-bikes in the city of Oshkosh and keeps pedestrians and drivers safe,” he said.

The next Common Council meeting is Tuesday, November 25, 2025. During which a new Council Member will be appointed to fill the seat vacated when Kris Larson resigned in October.