The 2026 Sheboygan County Budget reflects tremendous teamwork among County Board Supervisors and County staff. The budget development process starts in spring and is a collaborative effort throughout summer. As the budget develops, it is reviewed by staff with opportunities for input from the public. It is then approved by the Liaison and Finance Committees. The different preliminary components are then compiled into a comprehensive budget in early fall.

The 2026 Preliminary Budget was presented to the full County Board at its October 28, 2025 meeting. The 2026 Budget was then adopted at the November 4, 2025 County Board meeting. The 2026 Adopted Budget will be published with full details on Sheboygan County's website in mid-December 2025.

Sheboygan County Budget Summary

2026 Adopted Budget

 Click here to view the 2026 Adopted Budget Summary graphs.

Sheboygan County Budget Summary 

 2026 Adopted Budget

 Q: What is the total property tax levy adopted for the 2026 Budget and is it increasing or decreasing?
A: $54.7 million. The proposed property tax levy is increasing by 1.72%, or $923,828, over last year.

Q: What is the overall amount of the adopted Sheboygan County budget?
A: $216.1 million

Q: How successful has Sheboygan County been with limiting property tax levy increases
annually?
A: Since 2017, the average annual increase of the property tax levy would be 1.24%.

Q: Is the tax rate increasing or decreasing with this adopted budget and what does that
mean for my property taxes?
A: The adopted property tax rate is $3.25, which is a decrease of 9.3%, or 33 cents, from the 2025
Budget. On a $100,000 home, property taxes will decrease $33.31. This will be the 11th consecutive
year the property tax rate has gone down.

Q: If the tax rate is decreasing, is something being cut?
A: No, the 2026 budget preserves all core programs and services.

Q: Are there any special projects planned for the year ahead?
A: Yes. Below are a few examples of projects planned for 2026:
● Updates to County facilities, including lighting, elevator upgrades, and interior remodeling to better utilize available space
● Improving our transportation infrastructure, including Highway Department shed
improvements and investments at the Airport
● Radio and communications equipment upgrades for the Sheriff’s Department
● Implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning software and other technology
upgrades
● Strengthened Health and Human Services support levels to meet referral demand and ensure
caseload size is maintained at best practice levels

Q: Has Sheboygan County Government gotten bigger or smaller over the years?
A: In the early 2000s Sheboygan County had nearly 23 Departments and approximately 1,300
employees. Today, we have 19 Departments and approximately 950 employees. This was achieved
primarily by establishing priorities, consolidating and streamlining operations, and helps keep
property taxes in check.

Q: Who is involved in developing the annual budget?
A: It is the statutory responsibility of the County Administrator to set the tone for budget
development and set expectations for County departments. The County Board ultimately
approves the annual budget after it has been reviewed by the Liaison Committee and Finance
Committee. All committee meetings are open to the public and a public hearing is held during a
County Board meeting in October prior to the County Board finalizing the budget. Sheboygan
County residents are welcome to attend and encouraged to engage in the budget development
process.

Q: How do I know Sheboygan County is being fiscally responsible with my tax dollars?
A: Sheboygan County has a track record of maintaining healthy fiscal reserves and an excellent
bond rating, which is a measurement of creditworthiness of a bond and corresponds to the cost
of borrowing for an issuer. This allows Sheboygan County to receive competitive bonding rates for
capital improvements.
Additionally, an independent public accounting firm conducts a financial audit of Sheboygan
County every year. As a testament to our fiscal stewardship, in 2023 the Finance Department
earned the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting presented by the
Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the 11th consecutive year. 2024 Financial
reports have been submitted to the GFOA for consideration for the next award cycle.

Q: Where can I view more details about the budget?
A: The adopted budget for 2026, in detail, is now available for public inspection in the Finance
Department of Sheboygan County, located in Room 208 of the Administration Building, 508 New
York Avenue, Sheboygan Wisconsin. You can also review the adopted 2026 budget online by mid-December.