Green County Pulse

Tag: Green County

  • Green County Addresses Tax Impact as Jail Project Moves Ahead

    Green County Addresses Tax Impact as Jail Project Moves Ahead

    Green County officials are offering new details on the potential tax impact of a planned jail and law enforcement center as the project continues to move forward.

    The County Board of Supervisors previously approved borrowing up to $86.1 million for the project in June 2025. More recently, at its March meeting, the board authorized a contract with Kraemer Brothers to handle construction and project management, clearing the way for work to proceed.

    With the project advancing, county leaders say they’ve heard increasing questions from residents about how the debt will affect property taxes. In response, the county released a public statement outlining what is known and what remains uncertain.

    Officials emphasize that several variables will ultimately determine the impact on individual tax bills, including the final borrowing amount, interest rates, property values, and local and county mill rates. Ongoing efforts to secure grants could also reduce the amount of debt needed.

    Based on estimates presented to the County Board last June by PFM Financial Advisors, the county’s share of the mill rate could increase by about $1 once the full debt is reflected on tax bills in 2028. However, officials caution that figure may change as conditions evolve.

    County leaders say minimizing the financial impact on residents remains a top priority as the project progresses.

  • Green County Names First-Ever Administrator Following Board Approval

    Green County Names First-Ever Administrator Following Board Approval

    Green County has selected its first county administrator, with the County Board of Supervisors confirming Nicholas Owen to the newly created leadership role during its Feb. 10 meeting.

    The appointment marks a significant step in the county’s transition to a county administrator form of government, where the position will serve as the chief administrative officer overseeing day-to-day operations and implementing board policies.

    County Board Chairperson Jerry Guth announced the decision, noting Owen emerged from a competitive field of 39 applicants following what officials described as a thorough recruitment and assessment process. The search, led by the county’s Personnel and Labor Relations Committee, included interviews, stakeholder input, and a two-day final evaluation earlier this month.

    Owen brings more than 20 years of local government experience to the role. He has served as village administrator in Mount Horeb since 2015, managing a $27 million annual budget and overseeing major capital projects. Before that, he held the same position in New Glarus from 2006 to 2015.

    He holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and a bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point.

    Guth said the board is confident Owen’s leadership style and experience align with the county’s priorities as it moves forward under the new structure.

    The administrator position was created as part of broader organizational changes aimed at strengthening coordination across departments and improving overall operations.

    Green County officials said Owen is expected to begin his new role later this spring, pending completion of standard pre-employment requirements.