County Board -Mid Month - Administration Building — Agenda Packet

1 County Board Regular Meeting Wednesday, September 16, 2026, 9:00 AM Administration Center— Room A-204 121 W. Main Street, Port Washington, WI The following business will be before the County Board for initiation, discussion, consideration, deliberation and possible formal action: The public can access the meeting by viewing the live stream on the County website, Agendas & Minutes page and select the meeting agenda date. The public can submit comments here: Public Comment Form Public Comment Policy & Instructions For Submitting Public Comments Online AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Pledge of Allegiance to The Flag 3. Public Comments Legislative Updates Chairperson Proclamation 4. Communications 5. Presentations a. County Administrator's Proposed 2027 Budget Jason Dzwinel, County Administrator b. Explore Ozaukee Kathy Meulemans, Executive Director 6. Committee Appointments/Reappointments 7. Committee Reports and Supervisor Announcements 8. Adjournment Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations for attendance at this meeting should contact the County Clerk’s Office at 262-284-8110, 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Page 1 of 13 Item: 5.a. Agenda Item Information Sheet To: County Board From: Jason Dzwinel, County Administrator Meeting Date: September 16, 2026 Department/Office: Dept of Administration Item Name: County Administrator's Proposed 2027 Budget Jason Dzwinel, County Administrator Summary: County Administrator recommended 2027 budget. Recommended Action: None Attachments: 1. 2027_Budget_Highlights Page 2 of 13 1 2027 Budget Presentation Highlights MEMORANDUM To Ozaukee County Board of Supervisors From Jason Dzwinel, County Administrator Date September 16, 2026 Subject 2027 Budget Highlights The 2027 County Administrator recommended budget includes an operational county tax levy of $21,941,489. This is an increase of $550,000, or 2.57%, over the 2026 adopted levy of $21,391,489. The recommendation delivers a balanced budget while holding the levy increase to a level that is measured against the cost pressures facing County operations. The countywide debt levy decreases by $214,776, due to the prepayment of $432,000 of debt in 2026, a portion of this repayment is recommended to be offset by an allocation of $217,224 to the Fleet Lease Fund. Overall, the 2027 recommended county levy totals $23,519,976, a $335,224 increase over 2026 of 1.45%. This memorandum consolidates the principal presentation points from the 2027 departmental budget reports reviewed to date. The proposed budgets largely maintain current services. The most significant pressures arise from employee compensation and health insurance, contracted services, technology, transit funding changes, and the cost of maintaining County facilities and infrastructure. Departments have generally limited operating expansions, increased reasonable program-revenue estimates, and used enterprise revenue or fund balance where appropriate to reduce reliance on property tax levy. Budget Highlights Department or fund 2027 levy Change Primary driver General Fund Property Tax Reduction of $17,742,604 $1,100,000 Sales Tax increase Revenues of $750,000 and Interest Revenues of $250,000 Administration Center Facilities $704,000 +$38,000 Personnel, utilities and inflation Clerk of Courts $846,000 -$25,000 Additional state revenue offsets personnel costs Corporation Counsel and Child Support $570,000 +$33,000 Personnel and health insurance County Roads and Bridges $3.32 million +$0 Significant reserves of $1.2 million to offset levy increase District Attorney $846,000 About +$83,000* New Victim witness position staffing and health insurance plan changes Page 3 of 13 2 Department or fund 2027 levy Change Primary driver Emergency Management $287,000 Flat Stable current service budget Golf Courses No levy +$150,000 transfer Enterprise revenue supports parks Justice Center Facilities $1.00 million +$48,000 Personnel and benefits Land and Water $820,000 +$49,000 Personnel and health insurance Land Information Services $127,000 +$35,000 Standalone staffing model and insurance Planning and Parks $1.36 million +$50,000 Personnel and park operating costs Radio Services $586,000 $4,000 Personnel and contracted services Register of Deeds ($493,000) Improves by $64,000 Recording revenue exceeds expenses Sheriff’s Office $17.40 million +$766,000 Personnel, insurance, supplies, IT and jail contracts Transit $248,828 +$0 Significant reserves of $2 million to offset levy increase UW Extension $254,000 +$13,000 County staff, state contracts and IT Finance Committee Corporation Counsel and Child Support • The current-service levy increases approximately $33,000, or 6.2%, to approximately $570,000. • Child Support generates all departmental revenue, including approximately $603,000 in state support. Revenues remain essentially flat. • Salaries and benefits increase approximately $62,000. Approximately $36,000 authorized in 2026 for temporary or contracted assistance is removed because it has not been used. • The requested Assistant Corporation counsel would cost approximately $153,000 including benefits and is not included in current-service totals. The request should be evaluated against workload, service delays, outside-counsel use, project complexity, and whether a permanent position or targeted contract is the better response. County Clerk • The County Clerk's Office Current Service Level budget decreases tax levy by $800 or 0.2% over the 2026 tax levy. • Revenues decreased by $14,100 or 6.5%. • The tax levy decreases mostly due to lower election costs but is offset by normal increases in salaries and benefits. 2027 is an election cycle with lower turnout elections. • 2028 budget will show an increase due to the presidential election. Page 4 of 13 3 Department of Administration • Elimination of two Inten Positions and other operating expenditures creates $64,000 in savings. • Overall increase of $195,000 for salaries and benefits of staff in County Administrator’s Office, Finance and Human Resources. Information Technology Fund • The internal-service fund has no direct levy and is budgeted to balance. Total costs increase from $1.835 million to $2.195 million, a $360,000 or approximately 20% increase. • The increase is distributed to departments through user charges, generally based on supported devices. It therefore appears indirectly in departmental levy requirements. • Primary drivers are Microsoft 365 and other licensing, cybersecurity and maintenance contracts, consulting, and personnel supporting the County’s technology environment. • Purchased services increase approximately $229,000 and salaries and benefits increase approximately $121,000 to support the ERP Project. No expansion is proposed. Radio Services • The levy rises to approximately $586,000, an increase of roughly $4,000. The primary drivers are personnel and contracted services. • The budget maintains $140,000 for radio and technology capital needs. No operating expansion or staffing change is proposed. Human Services Committee Human Services and ADRC • The 2027 Human Services and ADRC budget includes $17.8 million in expenses and $11.4 million in revenues, resulting in a tax levy of approximately $6.4 million. This represents an increase of $685,000, or 12%, over 2026. • The budget maintains a vacancy and turnover adjustment of $493,080 against approximately $9 million in salaries and benefits, reflecting an assumed vacancy factor of 5.5%. Purchased services increase by $499,000, or 8%, primarily because of higher placement costs in the Behavioral Health Unit. Salaries and benefits increase by $665,000, or 8%, including a 20% increase in health insurance costs. Lasata Senior Living Campus • The 2027 Lasata Senior Living Campus budget includes $16.27 million in both revenues and expenses, resulting in a balanced operating budget. The Care Center budget assumes an average census of 80 residents. • The Campus will contribute $100,000 to the General Fund as a payment in lieu of taxes. Lasata Heights projects a surplus of approximately $322,000, based on a 4% rate increase and 97% occupancy. Lasata Crossings projects a surplus of approximately $752,000 under the same rate and occupancy assumptions. • The Care Center projects a modest surplus of approximately $116,000. The budget reflects a reduced census of 80 residents and an anticipated payer mix of 56% private pay and rehabilitation services and 44% Medicaid. • The 2027 capital budget includes approximately $519,000 for equipment, software, and building improvements. Planned work includes ongoing maintenance, tuckpointing, and painting at the Care Center and Lasata Heights. Page 5 of 13 4 Public Health • The 2027 Public Health budget includes approximately $3.64 million in expenses and $2.94 million in revenues, resulting in a tax levy requirement of approximately $709,000. The property-tax levy remains flat compared with 2026. • Grant-supported programs account for approximately $1.15 million in both revenues and expenses. The budget also includes approximately $40,000 in County funding for the Criminal Justice Collaborating Council. • A $70,000 infrastructure grant offsets the use of Kramer Fund resources for nursing salaries, preserving those funds for future public health needs. Veterans’ Services • The 2027 Veterans’ Services budget includes approximately $310,000 in expenses and $49,000 in revenues, resulting in a tax levy requirement of approximately $261,000. The levy decreases by approximately $21,000, or 8%, compared with 2026. • Salaries and benefits increase by approximately $19,000, or 7.5%, including a 10% increase in health insurance costs. No service expansions or additional positions are requested. Natural Resources Committee Land Information Services • Land Information Services is now shown as a standalone department, improving transparency for GIS operations. • The proposed levy is approximately $127,000, an increase of about $47,800. The primary drivers are the staffing model and budgeted health insurance assumptions. • The budget supports one full-time manager and one full-time GIS technician. Most operating expenses remain flat pending recruitment of the manager. • No expansion request or capital project is proposed. Land and Water Management • The proposed levy is approximately $820,000, an increase of about $49,200, or 7%. Expenses increase about $77,000 while revenues improve by approximately $28,000. • Salaries and benefits are the largest driver, particularly health insurance associated with employees selecting family coverage. • Funding equivalent to one intern position is eliminated. Zoning and sanitation revenue is increased based on recent activity, while state and federal revenue is budgeted more conservatively. • Approximately half of departmental costs are supported by outside funding, program revenues, grants and donations; the remainder is supported by levy. • No expansion request or capital project is proposed. Planning and Parks • The proposed levy is approximately $1.36 million, an increase of about $50,000, or 4%. Growth is concentrated in personnel, contracted services and operating costs for the expanding park system. • Funding equivalent to one intern position is eliminated. • Revenue improves through a $10,000 increase in the Golf Course Fund transfer, an $11,000 increase in camping revenue, and anticipated partial operation of the Hawthorne Hills campground. • There is no operating expansion request. The five-year capital plan identifies future preservation, accessibility, infrastructure and equipment needs but does not itself authorize each project. Page 6 of 13 5 Register of Deeds • The department is projected to generate approximately $493,000 more in revenue than expenses, improving the General Fund position by about $64,000 compared with the 2026 budget. • Recording activity and fee revenue remain strong. • Expenses increase primarily for salaries, benefits and IT. UW Extension • The proposed levy is approximately $254,000, an increase of about $13,000, or roughly 6%. • The increase reflects normal compensation for two part-time County employees, higher state- contracted employee costs, and increased County IT charges. Revenues remain flat. • There is no formal expansion or capital request. A separate increase of approximately $4,000 for additional hours for a state-contracted employee may be considered. Golf Courses • The golf courses remain fully supported without property tax levy and project approximately $2.65 million in revenues and expenses. • The transfer to the General Fund increases by $10,000 to $150,000, supporting parks and recreational programming. • The budget includes the 3% cost-of-living adjustment and planned equipment replacement. Operating results produced surpluses of approximately $401,000 in 2024 and $333,000 in 2025. Public Safety Committee Clerk of Courts • The current-service budget reduces the required levy by approximately $25,000, or 3%, despite an approximately $125,000 increase in salaries and benefits. • Approximately 75% of the budget supports personnel. Increased revenue, including anticipated additional state support, is expected to offset the higher costs. • Purchased services remain near $610,000 and include mandated or court-ordered guardian ad litem services, Chapter 51 examinations, court-appointed attorneys, interpreters, jury costs, and psychological services. • No expansion, position change or capital project is proposed. District Attorney’s Office • The proposed levy is approximately $846,000. Salaries and benefits increase approximately $109,000, or 14%. • The principal operational change is the midyear conversion of a part-time victim-witness position to full-time, adding approximately $49,600 including benefits. • Health insurance increases approximately $57,600, or 42%, due to the additional full-time position and another employee moving from single to family coverage. • Revenues remain flat. No additional expansion or capital project is proposed. Sheriff’s Office • The current-service levy is approximately $17.4 million, an increase of $766,000, or 4%. Expenses increase approximately $781,000 while revenues increase about $115,000. • More than 80% of the budget supports salaries and benefits. Salaries and benefits increase approximately $479,000, including a $267,000 increase in health insurance. • Other notable pressures include supplies, IT charges, and contracted jail food and health services. Page 7 of 13 6 • Two jail deputy positions added during 2026 are offset through reduced overtime and additional revenue. Eight authorized dispatcher positions are directly unfunded based on persistent vacancies; the positions remain authorized. • The budget adds $100,000 of jail boarding revenue and uses approximately $347,000 of fund balance for vehicle replacement. • Only about 7% of Sheriff’s Office expenses are supported by departmental revenue, so routine cost growth has a direct levy effect. Emergency Management • The levy remains flat at approximately $287,000. Revenues and expenses increase by similar amounts, and actual results have historically finished favorably compared with budget. • No major service-level changes are proposed. Public Works Committee Administration Center Facilities • The levy increases approximately $37,600, or 5.6%, to about $704,000. Expenses rise about $47,000, primarily for personnel, utilities and inflation. • Salaries and benefits increase approximately 9%, including a 23% increase in health insurance. Most supply and utility lines rise 3% to 5%. • Approximately $86,000 in interdepartmental revenue is generated from janitorial services to Human Services. No expansion, staffing change or capital project is proposed. Justice Center Facilities • The levy increases approximately $48,000, or 5%, to just over $1 million. Nearly all of the increase is attributable to salaries and benefits. • Roughly two-thirds of the budget supports personnel. Purchased services cover utilities, grounds, repairs and maintenance agreements. • The budget includes approximately $12,500 for the Advocates facility. No expansion, staffing change or capital project is proposed. Highway Enterprise Fund - Operations • The Highway enterprise operation remains essentially levy-neutral except for the customary $133,000 contribution for town bridge aid. • The enterprise budget includes approximately $13 million in revenues and expenses. Personnel costs increase about $445,000, and material and supply costs increase about $563,000. • The department is encouraged to pursue additional state and municipal work to strengthen enterprise revenue. The tradeoff is reduced capacity for County highway projects. • The budget assumes at least one vacancy will generate salary savings, although no formal vacancy adjustment is recorded. • No operating expansion or position addition is proposed. Approximately $551,000 is budgeted for equipment and building capital needs. Highway County Roads and Bridges – Levy Funded Maintenance and Construction • The levy increases approximately $158,000, or 4.7%, to about $3.47 million. • Approximately $5.26 million of road and bridge work is planned, offset in part by approximately $1.78 million in transportation aid. • The County historically reconstructs six to seven miles annually. The 2027 mileage will depend on material costs, project complexity and enterprise capacity devoted to outside work. Page 8 of 13 7 • The levy has remained comparatively stable for several years, with reserves supplementing projects when fund balances permit. Transit Services • Transit reserves remain historically strong, at approximately $2 million, and are recommended to offset levy increases in 2027. • Transit is a budget consideration. The move from suburban to rural funding and the expiration of approximately $331,000 in temporary federal funding, and an approximately $190,000 increase in the shared-ride taxi contract. • More than 75% of expenses are contracted services. Fare revenue is projected to increase by approximately $38,000 and transportation assistance by approximately $141,000, but those gains do not replace expiring one-time revenue. • Approximately $200,000 is budgeted for vehicle replacement. • No staffing change or service expansion is proposed. • The former commuter-bus levy remains temporarily in capital reserves and could provide a transition strategy while the County evaluates the long-term shared-ride model. Page 9 of 13 Item: 6.a. Agenda Item Information Sheet To: County Board From: Jason Dzwinel, County Administrator Meeting Date: September 16, 2026 Department/Office: Dept of Administration Item Name: September 2026 Committee Appointments Summary: ADRC Board/Commission on Aging Appoint Karen Oleski to replace Sharon Pechiva with a term to expire September 30, 2029. Appoint Rachel Haggarty to replace Lynn Cosentine with a term to expire September 30, 2029. Reappoint Kathleen Myers with a term to expire September 30, 2029. Reappoint Deborah Gresch with a term to expire September 30, 2029. Recommended Action: Approve the ADRC appointment of Karen Oleski and Rachel Haggarty and reappointment of Kate Myers and Deborah Gresch. Attachments: 1. Citizen Involvement Application Form - Karen Oleski 2. Citizen Involvement Application Form - Rachel Haggarty Page 10 of 13 Citizen Involvement Application Form Boards of Interest (Choose 3) Aging & Disability Resource Board First Name Karen Last Name Oleski City Port Washington Background Information As a senior citizen I experience the plus and minus times of being a senior. I know my way around the county buildings and senior centers. I think that I can bring this to my getting on this board. Worked for more than 5 years as a part-time Sub Meal manager. My 5-year anniversary was on June 6, 2016. I’m active in local community as a Kiwanis member and I have served several city organizations such as the Downtown Plan with Bob Harris at City Hall. Job Information Occupation Retired Current Employer Retired Additional Information Volunteer food delivery for senior lunch program. Page 11 of 13 Citizen Involvement Application Form Boards of Interest (Choose 3) Aging & Disability Resource Board First Name Rachel Last Name Haggarty City Grafton Background Information I am a retired Career Social Worker with a Bachelor’s degree from UW-Milwaukee. I worked my entire career as a Social Worker, serving all adult ages and circumstances. This included Long Term Care in a Skilled Nursing Facility, Home Hospice care, as a Social Work Care Manager for adults with physical disabilities, developmental disabilities and Alzheimer's. These adults lived in a variety of situations including nursing home care, independent living, assisted living and group homes. I would like to continue ensuring that disadvantaged members or our communities have access to resources that they require to live as independently as possible and with the necessary support structures in place. In addition to my BSW degree, ongoing certification and continued education credits were required annually. Areas of ongoing education included updates regarding laws, disease progression and Page 12 of 13 interventions, obtaining all possible information about available resources including home care, durable medical equipment, billing processes from hospitals and clinics, interactions with professionals such as medical/psychotherapy staff, development of programming initiatives as well as numerous additional topics and opportunities. My last employment was as a Member Rights Specialist and Quality Compliance in the auditing department to ensure assessment accuracy and completeness. the last 5 years I have served on the Executive Board of the Wisconsin State Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, ending as President of the Board. Job Information Occupation Social Worker Current Employer NA - Retired Additional Information Complete resume available upon request. Page 13 of 13