Principals’ Expense Statements.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 305-47
in effect305-47. Principals’ Expense Statements.
1. Every principal shall, no more than 30 days after the end of each reporting period, file with the city clerk an expense statement covering the preceding reporting period, if the principal has made lobbying expenditures of $500 or more within that reporting period. The statement shall contain the following information:
a. The total amount of lobbying expenditures made and obligations incurred for lobbying activities by the principal and all lobbyists for the principal. With respect to expenditures and obligations, the following shall be included:
a-1. Compensation to lobbyists and to the principal or officers or employees of the principal.
a-2. Lobbying expenditures made and obligations incurred for paid advertising and any other activities conducted for the purpose of urging members of the general public to attempt to influence legislative or administrative action, if the amount exceeds $500 during the reporting period.
a-3. If the amount of lobbying expenditures and obligations included in the total under this paragraph made or incurred by any one lobbyist for the principal exceeds $200 during the reporting period, the name and address of the lobbyist and the total amount of the lobbying expenditures made or obligations incurred during the reporting period shall be listed.
b. A detailed description of each subject area in which the principal attempted to influence legislative or administrative action during the reporting period, including all of the following:
b-1. The subject matter and specific issues in the proposals on which the principal attempted to influence legislative or administrative action in each subject area.
b-2. A contemporaneous record disclosing the time and resources spent on each attempt to influence legislative or administrative action in each subject area. The contemporaneous record shall be submitted on a form provided by the city clerk. This form shall include an itemization of the time spent meeting with city officials as well as any other activity which involved lobbying.
c. The name of any city official to whom the principal or any lobbyist for the principal provided reimbursement authorized under s. 303-9-2-a, and the date and amount reimbursed.
2. If a principal has made lobbying expenditures of less than $500 in a reporting period, the principal shall file a statement to that effect with the city clerk.
3. A lobbyist whose activities and expenditures are required to be reported by a principal under sub. 1, shall provide to the principal any information that the principal determines is needed to prepare the statement.
4. All accounts, bills, receipts, books, papers and other documents necessary to substantiate an expense statement filed pursuant to this section shall be obtained, organized and preserved by the principal and any lobbyist engaged by the principal for 3 years after the filing of the expense statement.
5. The following shall be exempt from filing an expense statement under this section: a government department, agency or organization of another political subdivision within the state of Wisconsin; another state; or the federal government.
6. There shall be a fee of $25 for each 30-day period or portion thereof, but not exceeding $100, for the late filing of any report required by this section.
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/CH305.pdf#page=9Fetched: 10/26/2026