Washington Co., WI – An Informational meeting will be held Tuesday, August 27 at Washington County Fair Park as Washington County Administrator Joshua Schoemann outlines the fiscal health of the county.
The meeting was scheduled after Schoemann indicated he would advise the Land Use and Planning Committee this week, August 22, to drop its effort to add a special tax assessment for the Private On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Maintenance Program (POWTS).
“At that meeting I will recommend to that committee to vote ‘No’ on implementing the POWTS fee,” he said.
The basic premise of the special tax would be to assess at $11 per parcel annually properties served by POWTS or $11 per system, whichever is greater based on the above cost estimate. Approximately 20,209 parcels (99.5%) would be assessed an $11 fee ($11 x 20,209= $222,299).
During a public hearing July 25, 2019 more than 50 people spoke against the special assessment and county officials read 46 pages of letters that also were against the proposal.
During the Sept. 11 County Board meeting, Schoemann said he will again recommend the County Board vote ‘No’ on the POWTS fee.
“We’ve recognized the situation and the outcry and citizens clearly have no interest in doing the fee or the tax; call it what you want it’s a tax. So I had a budget workshop and I don’t think this board has the votes,” he said.
During the August 27 meeting Schoemann will provide an update regarding the status of the proposed POWTS Special Assessment and there will be a discussion about the County’s fiscal health and budget.
“I want people to know what’s going on with the county fiscally,” said Schoemann.
In the past Schoemann has detailed how Washington County is “falling off a financial cliff.”
“That’s how the POWTS fee came up in the first place because there is a financial cliff. We’ve been directed not to raise taxes at all so fees or cuts is what we’re doing,” he said.
The informational meeting begins at 6 p.m. and is open to the public.