Story #2: Jefferson County notes low outstanding debt in 2019 budget

By Brad Allen
J486 Student Reporter

JEFFERSON, WI
Although noting an outstanding debt of approximately $15 million dollars to complete repairs and cleanup of highway projects, the Jefferson County Finance Committee lauded the proposed 2019 county budget as being in better shape than in previous years.

The proposed 2019 county budget accounts for a total of about $80 million in spending. About $20 million of that was raised from a levy of property taxes, and another $6.3 million is projected to be raised throughout 2019 in sales taxes at stores and from Amazon purchases online. State revenue services also contributed to the funding efforts.

“We’re very proud of where our budget is,” Wehmeier said. “We have challenges, and we have opportunities as we look ahead, but we want to encourage others to be a part of the process.”

As Jefferson County officials look to finish paying off the debt on the highway projects and continue to offer both social and mental health services countywide, along with decreasing amounts of state-provided revenues, the proposed 2019 budget is a little higher than past years.

“Ultimately, the goal is to look at these resources not just for 2019, but for 2020 and beyond, and to ask ourselves how we can provide those services to the county,” Jefferson County Administrator Ben Wehmeier said. “One of those concerns is how we look at those issues long term. … We try to drill into everyone to look at those issues five years down the road.”

Special projects in the works include keeping Medicare and Badger Care available to residents, as well as providing necessary resources to mental health centers.

“I like to think we’re the last line of defense for people in jeopardy,” Jones said.

Some likely challenges for the county include paying off the rest of the $15 million debt and finding solutions to health crisis as the number of fatal opioid overdoses and suicides have increased since 2017.

“We have some dollars set aside for cleanup along those highways, which is why that cost is higher than usual,” Wehmeier said.

The Jefferson County Finance Committee has contacted various mental health services for cost quotes and reduced spending by $1.2 million after accounting for necessary resources, Wehmeier said.

Wehmeier added that the county intends to continue financing social resources near or at current levels because much of the population relies on medical assistance, such as senior services.

The county’s tax levy is steadily decreasing, and the mill rates are now at about 4.07 percent, a level not seen since 2008. This is partly because the housing market has bounced back since the Great Recession, and Jefferson County has a cap on how far property taxes can rise.

A public hearing on the budget will be held Oct. 23 before the County Board of Supervisors votes Nov. 13 on final approval of the proposed 2019 budget ahead of a Nov. 15 statutory deadline.

In other action during the Jefferson County Board’s Oct. 9 meeting:

  • In a unanimous vote, the Board adopted a resolution to formally remember local World War II veteran Leon Zimdars, who died recently.
  • The Board also unanimously signed off on the sale of the Lake Mills highway satellite shop for $60,000 to county resident Chandler White.
  • Jefferson County’s Board of Supervisors also unanimously voted to deny a claim by Joanne Vonachen related to the Finance Committee.
  • With all present supervisors in favor, the Board adopted a proclamation for Oct. 7 through Oct. 13 to be National 4-H Week. The county 4-H chapter is also interviewing candidates for the role of county 4-H leader this Thursday, Oct. 11.
  • In a final piece of action Tuesday, the County Board agreed to spend more than $2 million in purchases to acquire a new utility truck for the Highway Department’s fleet of vehicles, along with additional truck beds, fuel tanks, hydraulic equipment and other controls to be accessible by utility crews using the new truck.

The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors will meet again at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16 in the Jefferson County Courthouse.

 

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