Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley signs 2021 budget

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley signed the 2021 county budget on Thursday, Nov. 12. 

The Milwaukee County Board passed the budget earlier this week, 14-4, ahead of Crowley's signing. 

Crowley said the goal of the budget is to create a strategic plan to achieve racial equality and to become the healthiest county in Wisconsin. he says the budget will address health disparities and pay inequalities. 

Officials say they are investing in families, public safety, neighborhood services, and the county's workforce. 

Crowley said the county still has work to do because they are in a fiscal crisis. 

“In order to do the difficult work of creating real change and fully achieve our vision we need to secure a local, long-term funding solution," said Crowley. "Although our departments had the brunt of the costs to close our budget gap this year we escaped with no major changes to central services like transportation, mental health and housing. However, this was largely due to an influx of funds from the federal CARES ACT, funds that will no longer be available at the end of next month.”

The final budget is $1.2 billion.