Shared Services
Washington County has been working with local municipalities to save costs by sharing services in the county. These services include road construction, lead lateral replacement, Fire/EMS services, and more, as seen on the right.

Biennial and Priority Based Budget
Washington County uses a biennial budget to free up elected officials’ and staff’s time while remaining flexible with money expenditure. Using a priority based budgeting system, we maintain a balanced budget using community needs to determine how money is allocated.

Compensation Plan
Washington County’s Compensation Plan focuses on paying at the 75th percentile of comparable counties. With pay mitigated as a factor, the plan also focuses on treating employees as individuals - with future pay increases based on merit and drive within the organization.

Fire / EMS
Through the Fire and EMS task force started by Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann, we are pursuing alternate ways to provide Fire and EMS services. This will help address the ongoing volunteer crisis for small towns within our communities to make sure that all residents receive emergency services in Washington County.

Proactive Sheriff’s Office
By reprioritization of county revenues, the County has continued to hire excellent staff in the Sheriff’s office, continuing to make our community safe. The Sheriff continues to actively seek ways to make our neighborhoods safer, including successful criminal investigations that remove predators from our neighborhoods, multiple collaborations with our community partners, implementing co-responder units, and the creation of new service programs designed to improve the lives of the many people in Washington County.

Cybersecurity Initiatives
Washington County is proactively seeking ways to ensure that the County can reduce threats to internal IT systems and programs countywide. Recently passing a resolution to hire an IT Cybersecurity Specialist, we are making sure that we are not just physically secure but digitally.

Next Generation Housing
Over the past 30 years, rising housing costs have made it challenging for young professionals to afford their first homes. The Next Generation Housing Initiative addresses this by creating community-driven neighborhoods with affordable, high-quality homes, helping to diversify Washington County’s housing market. Its goal is to provide attainable housing for the next generation and improve neighborhood quality.

Heart and Homestead - (Earned Down Payment Incentive)
Washington County’s Heart & Homestead Earned Down Payment Incentive is provided to individuals 18 years and older who are constructing or purchasing an owner-occupied dwelling unit (home and land) under $420,000 located in Washington County, that serves as the recipient’s primary residence. The incentive amounts will be 10% of the purchase price, or $20,000, whichever is less, pre-paid at the time of closing to the Recipient.

Parks Fiscal Sustainability Plan
Washington County Parks are now financially independent of property tax support as a result of the Community Endowment Fund whose annual distributions will build parks, trails and golf course improvements in perpetuity. This is complemented by implementing entrance fees, expanding revenue-generating activities such as rentals and events, and securing sponsorships and naming rights. Additionally, we prioritized retaining parks based on usage and reduced maintenance costs through partnerships and volunteer support.

Revolving Loan Fund
Washington County’s Revolving Loan Fund provides low-cost loans between $100,000 and $1 million to support business growth and relocation. The program has generated substantial economic benefits, including $5 million in public revenue and $53 million in private development in 2022 alone. By recycling loan repayments, the fund ensures continuous support for future business projects, fostering long-term growth.

2050 Transportation Network Sustainability Plan
The Washington County Highway Department developed its first long-range transportation plan, and is in the process of working on its second, the 2060 Transportation Network Sustainability Plan. The current plan has a design year of 2050 and serves as a guide for budgeting by estimating when specific stretches of the Washington County highway system should be improved based on a 25-year pavement lifecycle. This plan is intended to help achieve a financially sustainable transportation network for Washington County. The plan also highlighted the roadways that should be reconstructed to current roadway safety standards with improvements such as paved shoulders and increased sight distance.

Public Health and Medical Examiner Consolidation
Washington County has consolidated its Public Health and Medical Examiner services as part of a broader effort to enhance efficiency and reduce government size. The Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department, created through a collaboration between Washington and Ozaukee Counties, combines resources to manage public health initiatives, such as disease prevention and emergency preparedness. Similarly, the Medical Examiner’s Office, focused on death investigations and public safety, now operates under this consolidated framework, streamlining services for both counties.

Samaritan Campus Sale to EOM
The sale of the Samaritan Campus was beneficial for Washington County as it allowed the private sector, with its greater economies of scale and expertise, to provide more stable and efficient care for residents. The decision ensured that current and future residents, particularly those on Medicaid, could remain at Samaritan, while retaining long-serving staff and keeping the facility in the West Bend area. Despite being a challenging and emotional process, the sale achieved long-term stability for the campus, aligning with the county’s goals and community needs.

Washington County Government Center
432 East Washington Street
Suite 3029

West Bend, WI 53095 Days Available: Monday - Friday
Hours Available: 8:00a - 4:30p

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 262-306-2200