Honorariums, Fees and Expenses.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 303-9
in effect303-9. Honorariums, Fees and Expenses.
1. Every public official is encouraged to meet with clubs, conventions, special interest groups, political groups, school groups and other gatherings to discuss and to interpret legislative, administrative, executive or judicial processes and proposals and issues initiated by or affecting any city department or agency.
2. a. Except as provided in par. b, every official required to file who receives for a published work or for the presentation of a talk or participation in a meeting, any lodging, transportation, money or other thing with a combined pecuniary value exceeding $50 excluding the value of food or beverage offered coincidentally with a talk or meeting shall, on his or her statement of economic interests, report the identity of every person from whom the official receives such lodging, transportation, money or other thing during his or her preceding taxable year, the circumstances under which it was received and the approximate value thereof.
b. An official need not report on his or her statement of economic interests under par. a information pertaining to any lodging, transportation, money or other thing of pecuniary value which:
b-1. The official returns to the payor within 30 days of receipt.
b-2. Is paid to the official by a person identified on the official's statement of economic interests under s. 303-13 as a source of income.
b-3. The official can show by clear and convincing evidence was unrelated to and did not arise from the recipient's holding or having held a public office and was made for a purpose unrelated to the purposes specified in sub. 1.
b-4. The official has previously reported to the board as a matter of public record.
b-5. Is paid by the city.
b-6. Is paid by a government body which the official represents in his or her official capacity.
3. Notwithstanding s. 303-5:
a. A public official may receive and retain reimbursement or payment of actual and reasonable expenses and an elected official may retain compensation, for a published work or for the presentation of a talk or participation in a meeting related to a topic specified in sub. 1 if the payment or reimbursement is paid or arranged by the organizer of the event or the publisher of the work.
b. A public official may receive and retain anything of value if the activity or occasion for which it is given is unrelated to the official's use of the city's time, facilities, services or supplies not generally available to city residents and, the official can show by clear and convincing evidence that the payment or reimbursement was unrelated to and did not arise from the recipient's holding or having held a public office and was paid for a purpose unrelated to the purposes specified in sub. 1.
c. A public official may receive and retain from the city or on behalf of the city transportation, lodging, meals, food or beverage, or reimbursement therefore or payment or reimbursement of actual and reasonable costs that the official can show by clear and convincing evidence were incurred or received on behalf of the city and primarily for the benefit of the city and not primarily for the private benefit of the official or any other person.
d. A public official may receive and retain from a political committee under ch. 11, Wis. Stats., transportation, lodging, meals, food or beverage, or reimbursement therefor a payment or reimbursement of costs permitted and reported in accordance with ch. 11, Wis. Stats.
4. If a public official receives a payment not authorized by this chapter, in cash or otherwise, for a published work or a talk or meeting, the official may not retain it. If practicable, the official shall deposit it with the city treasurer. If that is not practicable, the official shall return it or its equivalent to the payor or convey it to a charitable organization other than the one with which he or she is associated.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-3/CH303.pdf#page=4Fetched: 10/26/2026