July 23, 2026 – Washington Co., Wi – The Washington County Board is voting to form a Countywide Fire/EMS System. While this may seem to be a good proposal it lacks merit and in facts institutes a double fee on the taxpayers of Washington County.
The current proposal would institute ANOTHER line item on the property tax bill similar to the Technical College and School District. It will do nothing to reduce the taxpayers burden.
For example, the Town of West Bend has entered into Fire/EMS contracts with Slinger, Allenton, and City of West Bend to provide those services for the Town. The Town would still have to enter/pay those contracts and have the residents be taxed to provide those services in the County.
That is a double tax/fee.
This would be the same for the City of West Bend and other localities.
The County is trying to incentivize the local municipalities to vote for this by threatening to withhold County (grants).
This proposal will lead to more/bloated administrative costs through the whole system and monetary waste.
This new tax will not go away. Internal documents estimate it will INCREASE 6% each year. Has anyone ever seen and new tax go away? Or go down?
The Washington County Board is set to discuss this on July 29, 2026.
Contact your County Board Supervisor and tell them NO!
Toby Netko
Town of West Bend
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