Nov. 5, 2025 11a
(WGTD)---The Racine County Board put the finishing touches on next year’s budget Monday night.
The budget includes a 2.8% increase in the county’s tax levy, which aligns with the rate of inflation.
County Executive Ralph Malicki’s original proposal called for a higher levy increase, but he trimmed it back after fielding criticism from the area’s Republican legislative delegation.
He did so in part by eliminating six new positions that had been proposed for Human Services. The department recently opened a new juvenile detention center and is preparing to open a behavioral health center that’s to include a short-term residential wing.
The reductions in the proposed staffing were made with little public discussion.
In an email to WGTD, Human Services Department Director Hope Otto signals that the cuts don't sit well with at least some staffers. "While the absence of these positions will certainly add some pressure and may affect morale in the short term, our team remains deeply committed to serving Racine County residents," Otto said. "Human Services staff are creative, dedicated professionals who continue to find innovative ways to meet community needs," she wrote.
Additional grants and increased state support will continue to be sought, she said.
The six positions that weren’t funded include a Community Impact Supervisor, a Program Analyst, a Fiscal Analyst and three Substance Use Disorder Counselors.
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