Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s proposed budget seeks to fund the maximum number of police recruit classes next year as the city deals with state pressure to hire more cops. The 2026 proposed budget includes funding for three additional full-time firefighters, which would increase the sworn daily firefighter positions to 207 next year, according to city budget director Nik Kovac. Kovac said the mayor’s proposed budget would increase the police department’s sworn strength to 1,645 officers in 2026. The proposed budget also includes about $206 million in local sales tax revenue from the city’s 2 percent sales tax. The proposed budget will go through several public hearings and committee meetings before the Milwaukee Common Council votes on the plan later this year.