County budget funds wage hikes, new hires

Ozaukee County supervisors last week approved a 2020 budget that will increase the property tax levy by 1.1%, or $236,900, to $21.44 million.

The county tax rate will rise $1.70 per $1,000 of equalized value. That will vary slightly in assessed value from community to community. 

The budget includes a 3% cost of living increase for county employees, one percentage point higher than the 2% increase employees have received in each of the last several years.

The budget includes a 12% increase in employee health insurance costs.

The budget was approved 25-0 with Supr. Gus Wirth abstaining.

The budget also includes new hires, including a person to be shared between the Human Services Department and Sheriff’s Office who would address mental health and substance abuse issues among jail inmates waiting to be released or entering the court system, at a cost of $91,000.

Sheriff’s Office officials say that nearly two-thirds of Ozaukee County jail inmates have been diagnosed with a mental disorder.

The budget allocates $93,000 toward marketing and communications. Dzwinel said it may take the form of creating a new county position or contracting for services.

A formerly county-funded assistant district attorney position is now being supported by the state so the county will now fund a newly created part-time paralegal position, saving about $70,000.

Supervisors approved county Administrator Jason Dzwinel’s recomen-dation to not increase the levy by $298,000 in net new construction value, which is allowed by the state.

Some supervisors had suggested in committee that the additional levy be used to pay down county debt more quickly or use it to complete one-time capital projects. 

But the issue was not broached when the board voted last week.

The budget also anticipates  $9.1 million in sales tax revenue, using an estimate from the Wisconsin Counties Association. Dzwinel had recommended a more conservative estimate of $8.9 million but supervisors opted to go with the WCA  figure. The additional $200,000 is earmarked for the mental health professional and for marketing.

The amount of sales taxes collected in 2019 and applied to the 2020 budget won’t be known until February 2020. 

The budget also recommends no increase in highway maintenance or construction, but suggests drawing on a $2.1 million fund balance for projects as needed. 

The 2020 budget allows $900,000 for road construction, $200,000 for snow removal and $250,000 for general maintenance, the same as this year.