Dane County has highest property taxes in state

but defunds police and raises indebtedness!

Don’t follow the Dane County Board as closely as once did. But we think Jeff Wiegand, who represents the Marshall and rural Sun Prairie WI area, is a reliable watchdog. As the only conservative in a legislative body numbering 37, his voice should be heard. 

by Jeff Wiegand:

For the fourth straight year I voted NO on the Dane County Budget. For 2025 the county budget:

Raises county property taxes by over $2.7 million. While this might not seem like a lot compared to a nearly billion-dollar total budget, it continues moving Dane County’s tax burden in the wrong direction. 

We already pay more property taxes than any other county in the state. [As of the Tax Foundation’s 2022 spreadsheet. Download at “Get the Data,” then sort.] We often hear from elected officials about the problem of rising home prices. If the county executive and County Board actually cared about housing affordability, they wouldn’t continue with these never-ending tax increases. I don’t know about you, but almost half of my mortgage payment goes toward property taxes. …

Is our quality of living any better than neighboring counties who pay thousands less than us?

Adds over $112.4 million in new borrowing. We are already carrying $763,690,000 in debt.  This new borrowing will push our total debt to be almost equal to our entire annual operating budget. 

The budget increases the following fees:

• Dog license tax
• Cremation certificates
• Airport terminal rent and landing fees
• Landfill waste disposal fees

Continues a multi-year trend of “Defunding the Police.” This year’s initiative resulted in cutting two deputy sheriff positions from the Sheriff’s office — one of which is a vacant position that services the northeast precinct in Dane County. [Blaska: political payback?] The constituents I represent will see a direct impact from this cut.  It always amazes me that the people pushing to defund the Sheriff live in Madison, which has its own police department.  

None of my budget amendments were included in the final budget including efforts to fight human trafficking, pursue some of the 1,400 felons who have outstanding arrest warrants, and other measures to create financial safeguards around the money we spend. In the end, it looks like we continue to get more of the same from the Dane County Board – we as taxpayers pay more money for fewer services.

→ A welcome October surprise (on November 1): WI Assembly Speaker Robin Vos tells Jay Weber on WISN radio Milwaukee that “his #1 priority if the GOP still holds the majorities next spring is to return most of the $4.5 billion tax surplus back to the taxpayers. A top goal: No income taxes for those over 65 on the first $100,000 worth of retirement income.”

 Audit Brandi Grayson!

Supv. Weigand is calling for an audit of Brandi Grayson’s Urban Triage. The liberal super-majority says Urban Triage is doing its job. Might be. But shouldn’t our elected officials look at the exorbitant salaries human service contractors are making off the poor? Like Brandi Grayson’s $292,242? (Read & Weep) 

Blaska’s Bottom Line: Proposes the County Board audit all of its contract agencies (they number in the scores). How many of their CEOs are fattening up on six-figure salaries while their employees who do the real work are paid survival wages?

How long before the county
asks for its own spending referendum?