Waukesha County executive's budget would raise spending, taxes 2%

By Laurel Walker of the Journal Sentinel

Waukesha — Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas presented the County Board with a 2011 budget Tuesday that would increase spending and the general tax levy both by about 2%.

The owner of a Waukesha County home at the median value - $260,700 - would pay $514 in county taxes under the proposal. That's about 1.2% more than a year ago when the same home was worth more - $272,100, on average - and the owner paid $508.

Vrakas said the budget continues to offer Waukesha County families and businesses certainty, stability and good services with only small tax increases.

He said the budget keeps labor costs to a 2% increase with the elimination of about 11 full-time positions and contracting out more housekeeping services. It plans for a net 1% pay increase after employees contribute more to health care and retirement. No furloughs are planned.

About 45% of the county tax levy is for state and federal mandates. In one big example, the budget includes $600,000 more in taxes for jail inmates - largely for their health care. An additional nearly $300,000 in taxes will cover lost state aid and labor costs for road maintenance.

Efficiencies such as $200,000 in energy savings on past investments, fewer staff in the County Board office, and expanded day reporting for inmates detained at home to save jail time are proposed.

A $2 increase to $27 in the annual parks admission fee for residents, the first in six years, is offset, in part, by offering second cars in a family annual admission at half price. A bus route between Brookfield Square and the New Berlin industrial park could be cut under the proposal after a public hearing.

The budget includes a loss of nearly $600,000 in revenue, such as investment income tied to the weak economy, but anticipates $450,000 more income from interest and penalties on delinquent taxes as property owners delay tax payments.

Services for more health and human services clients needing, for example, autism services or mental health community support would be covered with $1.4 million in additional state and federal revenue.

As proposed, the budget calls for spending $267.8 million, up 2.3% from 2010. Non-tax revenues of $153.4 million are up 1.7%. The total general tax levy of $97.5 million is 1.9% higher and translates into a tax rate of $1.97 per $1,000 equalized or fair market value, up 5.6%.

Residents who live in communities that do not support a local library would also pay a federated library tax of about 25 cents per $1,000 equalized value, up a penny.

County Board committees will review the budget over the next month with adoption scheduled in November. A public hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. Oct. 20 before the Finance Committee in Room 179 of the courthouse.