(WAUKESHA, WI) – On Tuesday, September 28, Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow introduced his 2022 Executive Budget to the Waukesha County Board of Supervisors. Justice and public safety remain Waukesha County’s top priorities, while supporting economic development and conservative stewardship of taxpayer dollars. The proposed budget would cut the County tax rate for the eighth consecutive year, including every year County Executive Farrow has been in office. The Board of Supervisors is expected to pass the final budget in November.
“My goal every year is to present a budget that is in line with what residents want: a safe, economically vibrant community, low taxes, and a high quality of life,” said Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow. “This budget does that with strong investments in justice and public safety, well-maintained roads that support our growing community, and responsible use of every tax dollar.”
If the County Executive’s Budget is passed as-is, the tax rate will drop from $1.76 to $1.68 per thousand dollars of home value, the lowest in at least the last 33 years. It also reduces borrowing by $700,000 from 2021 levels as part of a capital plan that helps guide the long-term financial health of the County.
The 2022 Waukesha County Executive Budget allocates its greatest portion of new county tax levy to justice and public safety, including over $1.2 million supporting those areas.
- The Sheriff’s Department will receive $825,000 to support operations.
- More than $215,000 will be allocated to public safety programs, like the Department of Emergency Preparedness, which includes 911 Dispatch. Courts and the District Attorney’s Office combined will receive more than $153,000 to fund operations, with additional resources prioritized to help address the case backlog created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The budget invests in infrastructure vital to the safety, economic development, and longevity of roads and facilities.
- Five construction projects are planned to improve Moorland Road, one of Waukesha County’s most important corridors.
- Phase one of the county’s courthouse project is wrapping up and is expected to finish under budget. In 2022, focus will shift to phase two of the project, which will begin renovation of the 1959 courthouse building.
The 2022 budget also continues to fund the Public Health Division’s response to COVID-19, and a team has been created to focus on management and implementation of American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) federal funds.
About the 2022 Waukesha County Budget
The 2022 Waukesha County Executive Budget is online at www.waukeshacounty.gov/Budget.
For updates about County programs and events, follow Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow on Facebook at @CountyExecutivePaulFarrow and on Twitter at @WaukeshaCoExec.
