Waukesha County's efforts to balance its finances hit a setback when the proposed sales tax ordinance, meant to help fund municipal services and reduce property taxes, was rejected. County Executive Paul Farrow presented the ordinance's failure to the Waukesha County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday and discussed potential future plans.
According to the Waukesha County release, Farrow said, "Over the next two years, I will collaborate with local legislators, legislative leaders, and the Waukesha County Business Alliance during the state's legislative session to optimize revenue generating options for counties and minimize unfunded state mandates." The failure of the sales tax ordinance has led Farrow and his administration to consider cuts to services to address the financial shortfall.
Farrow acknowledged the challenge of balancing residents' demands for quality services with concerns about increasing taxes. "“On the one hand we have residents demanding high quality services, good roads, and safe communities and on the other hand we have many people who feel like they are already taxed too much and don’t want to pay more of their hard-earned money to the County, or any other government, so we have to find the right balance," Farrow said in the release.
Waukesha County, known for being the lowest per capita spender in the state, is now one of only two counties without a sales tax. Without additional revenue, property taxes primarily fund state-mandated programs, some of which are partially unfunded by the state. These mandates, costing $51 million, could instead support critical county services like the Sheriff's Department and 9-1-1 dispatch.
