On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow went before the County Board of Supervisors to introduce the $389.2 million 2026 proposed County Budget. The 2026 Executive Budget is a plan that continues to meet the needs of residents and businesses while adhering to conservative financial principles and the state’s strict levy limits.
“The 2026 Budget reflects our ongoing commitment to fiscal responsibility while investing in the services and infrastructure that matter most to our community,” said Paul Farrow. “This plan was shaped with input from departments, residents, local businesses, and state leaders, and it positions Waukesha County to remain a safe, vibrant, and prosperous place to live despite the very tight fiscal situation the county finds itself in,” Farrow added.
Budget Highlights:
Expenditures: $389.2 million
o Operating budget decreases by $1.5 million (0.4%).
o Capital budget increases $2.2 million to $46.0 million, including the final year of courthouse renovations, highway repaving, and park improvements.
• Property Tax Levy: $117.6 million, a 1.79% increase. Despite the increase, the tax rate drops from $1.35 to $1.27 per $1,000 of property value due to growth in the tax base.
• Investments in Public Safety: Nearly 90% of new levy supports justice and law enforcement, including $1.5 million for the Sheriff’s Department, $70,000 for the District Attorney’s Office, and $117,000 for the Medical Examiner’s Office.
• Health & Human Services: Budget adjustments prioritize resources for senior services, Medicaid reimbursement, and opioid settlement-funded programs. Due to low participation, two senior dining meal sites in Oconomowoc and La Casa were eliminated.
• Infrastructure: $20.5 million for the final phase of courthouse renovations, highway projects, trail extensions, and facility improvements. Low ridership was another the driving force behind ending three commuter bus routes which previously served various points in Lake Country to the City of Waukesha and downtown Milwaukee/UW-Milwaukee Campus.
Farrow emphasized that while the state provided some additional funding, it continues to fall short of covering mandated costs. “Counties across Wisconsin urged stronger state support, especially in Circuit Courts and state required programs. While we made small gains, funding remains far from a true state-local partnership,” Farrow said.
The County Executive also credits some luck with helping to balance the 2026 Budget. The Sheriff’s Department avoided a major revenue reduction when the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) delayed the implementation of a ruling by just one year, which would have eliminated all inmate telephone funding for the county. The FCC rule was set to go into effect on April 1, 2026, and was estimated to reduce revenues by $600,000 over the next two years.
Fiscal Stewardship:
The 2026 budget maintains strong debt management practices, with $27.2 million in borrowing, $2 million less than 2025 and debt service well below policy limits. Personnel costs are carefully managed, with a net reduction of 6.83 levy-funded full-time equivalent positions.
The 2026 Executive Budget will be reviewed by the Waukesha County Board of Supervisors, with final adoption expected in November.
