MILTON – The Milton Common Council is expected to decide in November whether or allocate funds to three local nonprofits, as part of the city's 2026 budget.
The council deferred action Tuesday on 2026 funding requests from the Badger Chordhawks Chorus Guild, Milton Historical Society and Milton Youth Tri after a motion by Alderperson Ken Smith.
"I guess I would make a motion to table these until the next meeting so I can have some time to get a little more information. I don't really have any issues with anything happening here. I just need some time to ask questions to get some answers I need," Smith said.
The council may choose to fund all three, two, one, or none at all.
The council meeting is on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. at Miton City Hall, 710 S. Janesville St.
Badger Chordhawks Chorus Guild
The Badger Chordhawks Chorus Guild has asked for $5,000 for The Patriotic Concert, a free, community musical event with two performances at the Milton High School Auditorium.
The funds would help cover production costs, including for the venue, staging, marketing and guest artist expenses, "ensuring that the event remains accessible to community members while maximizing the proceeds donated to local veteran's organizations,” the request said.
Guild Executive Director Christopher Smith told the council that his organization is about restoring "something that is deeply needed in today's world: hope, pride and connection."
"Looking ahead, we plan on deepening our partnerships with local government and veterans’ organizations, expand outreach to youth and enhance visibility through new marketing and new community collaborations," Smith said. "Our long-term goal is simple: to make Milton synonymous with The Patriotic Concert the same way people associate Sun Prairie with Flags of Freedom or Hometown Days is associated with Verona.”
“Your support tonight will help cement that legacy ensuring this concert continues to bring joy, purpose and unity to the heart of Milton for generations to come.”
Milton Historical Society
The Milton Historical Society has requested an additional $10,000 for the Milton House Museum for a total of $20,000 in 2026. The city budget is already proposed to allocate $10,000 to the Historical Society.
The historical aociety has said it would use the additional funds to cover payroll for hourly staff at the museum, which include one part-time, year-round office manager and seasonal summer employees.
"These hourly employees play a key role in providing operational support to the executive director and ensure that the museum can adequately handle the increased visitor traffic experienced during these months," Executive Director Keighton Klos wrote.
Klos noted in an application to the city that the museum has over 10,000 guests annually.
The museum added two full-time positions in February, which has helped it have a presence at Community Days for the first time and offer more of its own events.
The museum has been developing “History-in-a-Box” kits, which are rentable boxes for classroom use, and classroom visits. It hopes to extend its reach in the community, including launching audio and video tours as virtual options for those who cannot physically visit the museum.
"These new initiatives are more than just educational tools. They are also new revenue streams that support the museum's sustainability and relevance today and the future," Klos said. "However, as you well know staffing comes at a cost. The additional staffing is essential to building and maintaining these initiatives and your support will help ensure their continued success."
Klos said while she wouldn't rule out making the request again, she views the additional $10,000 as a one-time request because of the new full-time employees hired.
Milton Youth Tri
The first-ever Milton Youth Tri was on June 25 and had 55 participants between the ages of 5 and 12 competing in swimming, biking and running heats. About half of the participants were from Milton and the other half were from Janesville, the organization's Ashlee Kunkle told the council. Kunkle said the event was created to encourage active and healthy lifestyles for youth, and build confidence and determination in young athletes.
The organization has requested $2,500 to cover event operational expenses and essential safety equipment to "ensure a secure and enjoyable experience for all participating athletes, volunteers and spectators."
The $2,500 is about the same as the cost of running the event, Kunkle said. The $2,500 then was attained through sponsorships.
"We would continue to seek sponsorships in order to build up that fund to support the youth with equipment, registration, sign-up fees and everything like that," Kunkle said. "Our hope is to provide small grants to youth for sporting opportunities,” she added.
