Financial Disclosure.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 303-11
in effect303-11. Financial Disclosure.
1. REQUIRED. A statement of economic interests shall be filed with the board as follows:
a. Except as provided in par. d, any individual who in January of any year is an official and is required to file as so designated by the city positions ordinance shall file with the board no later than February 28 of that year a statement of economic interests. The information on the statement shall be current as of December 31 of the preceding year.
b. Except as provided in sub. 4-c, any newly appointed or employed individual required to file as so designated by the city positions ordinance shall file a statement of economic interests within 21 days following the date he or she assumes office if the individual has not previously filed a statement of economic interests with the board during that year. The information on the statement shall be current as per the date he or she assumes office.
c-1. Any nominee to a city board, commission or committee who is required to file as so designated by the city positions ordinance shall file a statement of economic interests within 21 days of being nominated unless the nominee has previously filed a statement with the board for that year. The information on the statement shall be current as of the date he or she is nominated. Following the receipt of a nominee's statement, the board shall forward copies of the statement to the members of the committee of the common council to which the nomination is referred. The statement of financial interests shall be submitted by the nominee in advance of the meeting of the common council committee considering the nomination for confirmation by the common council.
c-2. Any nominee to a city board, commission or committee not requiring common council confirmation but who is required to file as so designated by the city positions ordinance shall file a statement of economic interests within 21 days of being nominated unless the nominee has previously filed a statement with the board for that year. The information on the statement shall be current as of the date he or she is nominated.
d. Any official required to file a statement of economic interest under the positions ordinance solely as a result of appointment to a board, commission or committee shall be exempt from the filing requirement under par. a if the board, commission or committee did not meet during the prior calendar year or whose resignation, submitted and effective in the calendar year preceding the filing deadline, has been reported to the city clerk as required in s. 320-2. This exemption shall not apply to a person who is reappointed in a subsequent calendar year or who is otherwise required to file a statement of economic interests under par. b or c.
e. The ethics board shall provide consultation and advice upon request of the election commission relating to the financial disclosure requirements in sub 4.
2. FAILURE TO FILE. a. Late Filing. Any individual failing to file a statement of economic interests with the ethics board within the time limits required by sub. 1 shall, upon subsequently filing a completed statement 11 or more days after the date required for filing, pay a late filing fee of $25. An additional late filing fee of $5 per day shall be assessed for each day that expires after 30 days from the date due until a completed statement is filed, the total sum of these daily fees not to exceed $100. Any statement of economic interests that is filed late shall not be considered a completed statement without payment of the appropriate fee for late filing.
b. Notice to Appointing Authority. The ethics board shall notify any appropriate appointing authority of the failure of an official or employee to file a required report within 15 days of the date on which the report was required to be filed.
c. Notice of Delinquent Filing. The ethics board shall cause a letter to be mailed first class, postage prepaid and addressed to the last known address of any individual who has not filed required report within 30 days of the date on which the report was to be filed notifying the individual of the filing requirements, the assessment of late filing fees as provided in par. a, and that the matter of the delinquent filing may be referred to the city attorney for prosecution as provided in par. d.
d. Violation and Penalty. If after 45 days from the date required for filing of a statement of economic interests, a public official who is not a member of a city of Milwaukee board, committee, or commission subject to filing requirements, or an employee who is not a member of a city of Milwaukee board, committee, or commission subject to filing requirements under this section has failed to file a complete statement, the chair of the ethics board or designated staff member may cause an affidavit to be prepared and delivered to the city attorney stating upon knowledge and belief that an individual is in violation of the reporting requirements of this section, identifying the individual by name and position, declaring that the notice to be provided the individual in accord with par. c. was sent, and identifying the date the notice was sent and the address to which it was mailed. Upon receipt of the affidavit, the city attorney may file charges with the municipal court for violation of this section. Any person convicted of a violation of this section for failure to file a required and complete statement of economic interests within 45 days of the required date, shall be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $250 nor more than $1,000, and shall upon failure to pay the forfeiture be imprisoned in the county jail or house of correction for not less than 10 days nor more than 40 days.
e. Violation and Penalty for Members of City of Milwaukee Boards, Committees, and Commissions. If after 45 days from the date required for filing of a statement of economic interests, a member of a city of Milwaukee board, committee, or commission subject to filing requirements under this section has failed to file a complete statement, the chair of the ethics board or designated staff member shall file a complaint with the common council, using the procedures set forth in s. 303-29, recommending that the member be removed from his or her respective board, committee, or commission in accordance with the provisions of s. 17.12, Wis. Stats., and s. 4-28 of the city charter. In lieu of removal, the common council may direct the city attorney to file a municipal citation, as set forth in s. 303-11-2-d.
3. EXTENSION OF DEADLINE. On its own motion or at the request of any individual who is required to file a statement of economic interests, the board may extend the time for filing or waive any filing requirement if the board determines that the literal application of the filing requirements of this section would work an unreasonable hardship on that individual or that the extension of the time for filing or waiver is in the public interest. The board shall set forth in writing as a matter of public record its reason for the extension or waiver. Extensions and waivers shall not be granted to candidates for public office.
4. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE BY CANDIDATES FOR ELECTED OFFICE.
a. Any candidate for city public office shall file a statement of economic interests with the city election commission no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 3rd day following the deadline for filing nomination papers for the office which the candidate seeks at the time of filing of nomination papers. The information on the statement shall be current as of December 31 of the year preceding the filing deadline.
b. To assure consistency with the disclosures required of city officials and employees, the election commission shall consult with the ethics board relating to the content and requirements of the statement of economic interests to be filed by candidates for elected city office.
c. A copy of the statement of economic interest filed by a candidate under this subsection shall be forwarded promptly to the ethics board by the election commission upon the election of the candidate to office. Upon receipt of a copy of the statement of economic interest filed by a candidate who has been elected to office, the ethics board shall accept the statement in lieu of the statement required of a newly appointed or employed individual as provided in sub. 1-b.
d. If a candidate for city office fails to file a statement of economic interests under this chapter within the required time, the candidate's name shall be omitted from the election ballot.
e. Any candidate for city office who files a false statement of economic interests under this subsection shall upon conviction be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $250 nor more than $1,000, and shall upon failure to pay the forfeiture be imprisoned in the county jail or house of correction for a period of not less than 10 days nor more than 40 days.
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=5Fetched: 10/26/2026