OSHKOSH, WI—(WISS)— Winnebago County Executive Gordon Hintz signed the new 2026 Winnebago County Budget on Thursday, marking the end of an over 6-month-long budget process that began when Hintz took office in April.

“As we look ahead to 2026, this budget is about resilience and making sure Winnebago County can adapt and respond to new challenges while keeping our focus on long-term stability, whether it’s maintaining strong reserves, planning for future infrastructure needs, or supporting programs that protect the health and safety of our residents. This budget prepares us to meet the moment,” Hintz said during a signing ceremony.

The $238 million budget invests in core services, strengthens the County workforce, and funds long-term infrastructure and facility needs. And ensures continued funding for the Homeless, Eviction and Loss Prevention or HELP program to help the unhoused in Winnebago County.

The 2026 budget supports long-term operational and community readiness with investments in key priorities:

Preserving Core Services: Sustains key functions across public safety and increases staffing potential in the jail to maintain safe staffing ratios. Increases County Clerk staffing to support public requests and enhance election administration capacity. Enhances leadership positions in Veterans Service and Emergency Management to meet growing demands and changing service delivery models.
Building for the Future: Invests $19 million and brings in another $9.5 million in outside funding for capital improvement projects that modernize the county phone system, plan for the future landfill site, improve our transportation networks, and maintain aging infrastructure.
Ensuring Fiscal Stability: Preserves healthy reserves, enhances cost-recovery, reduces reliance on property taxes, decreases applied reserves, and maintains flexibility for unforeseen needs.

“This was a lot of work from the County Executive and staff. And it shows with a smoother process that was easier for our board,” County Board Chair Tom Egan said in a press release. “I appreciate the collaboration between the board and the administration to adopt a budget that benefits our whole county. And because of the work of the administration ahead of time, we were able to adopt the budget in one day instead of two or three days.”

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