West Bend, Wi – Washington County, WI, is considering dropping out of Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. I feel that it could be a mistake. SEWRPC provides many services not available to the County with the staff they have. Note: two persons have recently left a department that uses the services provided by SEWRPC.
Local towns use the same services as do the lake districts. The synergy of working with the adjoining Counties and the data provided by SEWRPC, in my opinion, cannot be matched with in house staff.
Below are a few things to consider.
Option 1: Remain in SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission)
Strategic Advantages
Federal Funding Access: SEWRPC is the designated MPO—essential for transportation and infrastructure grants.
Regional Coordination: Aligns planning with six neighboring counties for roads, water, housing, and economic development.
Technical Expertise: Access to 50+ professionals in planning, engineering, GIS, and environmental analysis.
Cost Efficiency: Shared services reduce per-capita costs and avoid duplication.
Disaster Resilience: FEMA-compliant hazard mitigation planning with high ROI (up to $7 saved per $1 spent).
Environmental Stewardship: Regional plans support water quality, farmland preservation, and open space protection.
Grant Eligibility: High
Influence: 3 appointed commissioners represent county interests
Option 2: Form Independent County Planning Agency
Potential Benefits
Full autonomy over planning priorities, timelines, and staffing
Tailored focus on county-specific issues
Key Challenges
High Operating Costs: Estimated annually for staffing, tools, and operations, considerable.
Loss of Metropolitan Planning Organization Status: Reduced access to federal transportation and infrastructure grants
Limited Technical Capacity: Must replicate SEWRPC’s modeling, GIS, and planning tools
Fragmented Planning: Risk of misalignment with neighboring counties
Reduced Regional Influence: No seat at SEWRPC table; diminished voice in VISION 2050 and CEDS
Grant Eligibility: Limited
Influence: Local only
Bottom Line
Remaining in SEWRPC offers strong financial value, regional leverage, and access to critical planning resources. Independence may offer control, but at significant cost and strategic disadvantage.
David Baldus
West Bend, Wi
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