Spending falls in Waukesha County budget proposal

Sept. 26, 2012
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By Don Behm of the Journal Sentinel

Sept. 26, 2012 0

Waukesha - Spending on Waukesha County government services and construction projects would drop 3.8% to $273.7 million in 2013, under a budget proposed by County Executive Dan Vrakas.

The bottom line - an overall cut in county government spending of $10.9 million next year - was achieved by spending less on major capital construction projects than this year.

Financial challenges from rising vehicle fuel prices, increased spending on adult jail inmates and reductions in investment income were more than offset by reducing the capital budget by $12 million, according to budget documents.

Cutting county spending will lessen the property tax burden on home and business owners, Vrakas said.

"Last year, we were able to freeze taxes on a median valued home," he said in comments before the County Board.

"This year, a county homeowner with a median valued home will see a $2 decrease on the county portion of their tax bill," Vrakas said. The county share of the 2013 property tax bill for that home would be $512.

The 2012 median home value in Waukesha County is projected at $243,200, down from $255,642 for 2011. Residential home values in the county deflated an average of 4.85% from 2011 to 2012.

Proposed spending in the 2013 capital budget equals $27.9 million, while spending on daily costs of operating county services amounts to $245.8 million.

Even with reduced capital spending, the county will complete construction next year of the new Health and Human Services Building and the expansion of Janesville Road in Muskego.

A tax levy of $101.7 million is needed to balance the 2013 budget. The amount of the levy spent on repaying debt drops $500,000 to $15.3 million for 2013.

The countywide tax rate required to generate the levy is $2.11 per $1,000 of equalized value, up 10 cents.

Waukesha County government will have one of the lowest county tax rates in the state if the proposed budget is approved, Vrakas said. The 2013 rate would be the lowest among all Wisconsin counties without a county sales tax as a revenue source.

"One of the key ways Waukesha County is able to support economic development, and retain and attract businesses to the county, is by keeping our property taxes low," he said.

County Board adoption of a 2013 budget is expected in November.

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About Don Behm

Don Behm reports on Milwaukee County government, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, the environment and communities in southeastern Wisconsin. He has won reporting awards for investigations of Great Lakes water pollution, Milwaukee's cryptosporidiosis outbreak, and the deaths of three sewer construction workers in a Menomonee Valley methane explosion.

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