William L. McReynolds, County Executive

OPERATING AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE

The County Executive is elected every four years on a countywide basis as the Chief Executive Officer of Racine County.  The duties and responsibilities of the County Executive are set out in Chapter 59 of the State Statutes.  All resolutions and ordinances adopted by the County Board are reviewed and then approved or vetoed by the County Executive, who then returns them to the County Board prior to the Board's next regularly scheduled meeting.  Those items not returned to the County Board by the County Executive automatically become effective without the County Executive's approval.  If necessary, the County Executive has the authority to veto individual appropriation measures.  A 2/3 vote of the County Board can override a veto by the County Executive. 

The County Executive also selects and supervises the heads of all County departments, except where state statutes provide that the appointment be made by a board, commission or other elected official. 

The County Executive prepares and delivers the annual executive budget and the annual address to the County Board concerning the condition of County government.  The County Executive also serves as the goodwill ambassador for the County.

EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES

The County Executive (CE) works continually to operate Racine County government and deliver required services to our citizens as smoothly, efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, and to prepare for the future with vision and responsibility. 

The area of economic development is one of particular importance in these difficult financial times.  The CE held an “Economic Summit” for owners of small and medium sized manufacturing businesses in the county, because these people had told him that they did not feel they were being heard when decisions were made.  At the Summit, their concerns and suggestions were heard and recorded for inclusion in updates of the County Economic Development Plan.  The CE also began planning a program to purchase land along the I-94 corridor for future commercial and industrial development. 

The CE serves as the County's representative in communication with other Counties, the State and the Federal government.  Letters, phone conversations and person-to-person meetings with state and local officials occur daily.  The CE has been especially concerned with exploring how cooperation with neighboring counties can result in new efficiencies and/or economies. 

Another goal of the CE's office is to heighten the level of intergovernmental cooperation and public-private partnerships when this will be beneficial for the County's citizens.  In 2003, the County Executive instituted a series of “Town Hall” meetings held in different areas of the county, where citizens could speak directly to the County Executive, elected officials and appointed Department Heads, expressing their concerns and asking questions.  The CE also initiated meetings of the top elected officials of the County’s municipalities, where issues of common interest could be discussed frankly and openly.

2004 GOALS AND BUDGET STRATEGIES