Guest Column: Much To Be Proud of in Waukesha County

Dear Friends,

At the end of April, I traveled to Chicago alongside Director of Administration Norm Cummings, County Board Chairman Paul Decker and other members of the Waukesha County team, to meet with Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings for our Bond Rating Presentation. At that meeting, I was so proud to tell the representative’s from Moody’s and Fitch about Waukesha County.

We truly have a great story to tell about our outstanding county. In evaluating the county to determine our bond rating, analysts looked at the Waukesha County budget, our financial forecast, our budgeting practices and county demographics. Waukesha has a strong, diversified workforce, a stable tax base and low tax rate. We are one of only 10 counties in the state without a county implemented sales tax.

According to an independent study, Waukesha County is the lowest per capita spending County in the State of Wisconsin. According to the 2010 Census, we are the 3rd largest county in the State for population and one of the top five fastest growing counties in the state. In fact, alongside Kenosha County, Waukesha County is the fastest growing county in Southeastern Wisconsin. With 3.6 employees per 1,000 residents, we have one one of the lowest employees per capita ratio in the state.

We have so much to be proud of in Waukesha County, and our outstanding bond rating is a representation of our great success.

Dan Vrakas,
Waukesha County Executive