• state of the county - banner - 2024

MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE

jonathan
 

"Facing fiscal challenges and growing community needs, we must commit to innovative solutions that guarantee our essential services and economic stability."

Jonathan Delagrave was first elected as Racine County Executive in April 2015 and re-elected for a third term in April 2023. Prior to serving as County Executive, Jonathan held other key positions at Racine County, including Juvenile Detention Superintendent and Human Services Director. In addition to his duties as County Executive, Jonathan actively serves on the executive board of the Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA).

Racine County must proactively address our community's challenges while maintaining a fiscally responsible budget through the following comprehensive strategies:

  • Address the fentanyl and opioid crisis by providing responsive and accessible mental health and substance abuse services for residents.
  • Enhance public safety with significant upgrades to our aging 911 infrastructure, ensuring faster and more reliable responses during emergencies.
  • Honor the service for our veterans, ensuring access to federal and state entitled benefits of healthcare, affordable housing, education, and nutrition.
  • Improve roads and infrastructure, raising our highway spending from the lowest per capita in the State of Wisconsin.
  • Invest in the future of Racine County by transforming youth justice with innovative programming and robust supports tailored to the mental health and special needs of our most vulnerable youth.
our commitment ot exonomic stability

Racine County commits to find innovative solutions to maintain and reduce county property taxes, with a track record of reducing our tax rates for 11 straight years.

2024 Racine County commits to responsible use of county debt and borrowing, striving to achieve significant interest savings for County tax payers.

MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTY BOARD

As your new County Board Chair, I am proud to serve you and to be part of a dynamic, thriving Racine County. This year, our commitment to business development has positioned us as a regional leader in economic development, with two of our projects gaining recognition in the Milwaukee Business Journal's 'TenLargest Developments Outside MKE' list for 2024. Further developments, such as Tivoli Green's expansion, BRP's facility upgrades, and the reopening of State Highway 83, highlight our dedication to building communities where residents can live, work, and raise a family.

  
  tom kramer

Tom Kramer - County Board Chairman

 tivoli green

Phase II of construction at Tivoli Green Apartment Homes in Mount Pleasant marks its first new townhomes in over 20 years, adding 180 units for a total of 458.

BRP

BRP is further investing in the Village of Sturtevant with $14 million in facility upgrades, including an off-site shipping yard and updates to its marine training center.

hwy 83

The reopening of State Highway 83 enhances connectivity between Racine and Waukesha Counties, promising economic benefits for local businesses.

microsoft

REGIONAL LEADER IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

The Microsoft Data Center in Mount Pleasant, with a $1 billion initial investment on 1,345 acres, has significantly increased land values by $3 billion. Facilitated by Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC) and funded directly by Racine County, this project critically expands industrial and business capacity along the I-94 corridor. Recent completions and announcements have added over 2 million square feet of industrial space in Racine County.

Industrial expansion includes developments at Caledonia Corporate Park, DeBack Farms Business Park, Enterprise Business Park, I-94 Business Center, and Park 94. These projects offer state-of-the-art facilities ideal for manufacturing and distribution, strategically making Racine County a regional leader in business development.

DeBack farms

BUILDING A RESPONSIBLE, RESILIENT COUNTY BUDGET

Last year, Racine County faced rising costs, inflation, and a daunting $21 million initial budget deficit. Despite these challenges, we remained committed to fiscal responsibility and resilience.

We engaged in a thorough budgeting process to preserve essential core services without jeopardizing our financial stability. Innovative service delivery and resource allocation allowed us to stretch every dollar while maintaining our long-term financial health and avoiding reliance on one-time federal funds.

DECLINING STATE REVENUE

State revenue is declining as community needs continue to grow. As a result, we must seek out innovative approaches to maintain essential core services without compromising our fiscal integrity.

MEETING COMMUNITY NEEDS

20245Our communities are experiencing growing needs in several key areas:

  • Road and Infrastructure: Dead last statewide in critical infrastructure investments like highways
  • Public Safety: Beyond-end-of-life 911infrastructure
  • Veterans: Health care, housing, education, and food-security needs of veterans
  • Mental Health: The need for mental health services is rising exponentially, with 1 in 10 teens statewide attempting suicide