Jefferson County Administrator Proposes Budget to County Board
Board invites residents to October 22nd meeting for public comment
Jefferson County Administrator Ben Wehmeier, on October 8, formally proposed a 2025 budget for consideration by the County Board of Supervisors. For the second year in a row, this proposal includes a reduction in both the debt levy and the mill rate. The proposal includes $109,600,674 in total expenditures.
Drawing on the same themes that were presented during the Finance Committee hearings in September, Wehmeier kicked off the meeting by describing the challenges and opportunities for next year and the years ahead. Rapidly increasing costs for technology and personnel costs like health insurance have put pressure on every department. Slowdowns in state aid and sales tax collections statewide are also holding revenues flatter than in recent years.
Prior budget decisions, however, have freed up funding to offset some of these challenges. The County Board’s decision to pay off debt early has resulted in more than $1 million in savings, including $588,812 in the upcoming budget. Pro-growth policies and a highly regarded quality of life led to a 7.2% increase in equalized value across the county, allowing for a mill rate cut of 8.4%. This has put Jefferson County in a position to reduce taxes for the second consecutive budget.
The Board will hold a public hearing on the budget proposal, open to all members of the public, at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, October 22nd at the Jefferson County Courthouse. The final vote on the budget will occur on November 12th. The budget can be found on the county website at www.jeffersoncountywi.gov under the “Government” tab.
Editor’s comment: The above press release was issued by Jefferson County.
