02/08/2024
In case you missed the article in the West Bend Daily News recently from our County Executive Josh Schoemann, we think it's worth a read and wanted to share.
Effective government puts people, not special interests, first
By Josh Schoemann
Updated Feb 3, 2024
Oftentimes, folks think that the government entity or the special interest groups that are most likely to infringe on their rights and liberties lives and breathes in Washington, D.C. Not necessarily. More often, government overreach happens in front of our very eyes in our local municipal and county politics and governments. As informed citizens, we must never forget to remind one another, as well as our local government officials, that government power is intended to first secure our rights, and that power comes from the people.
Since it is a man-made institution, even local governments in Washington County are not immune from infringement on personal property rights and government overreach.
Unfortunately, there are too many instances recently where local special interest groups attempt to use the levers of zoning and regulation to infringe on others’ property rights, or where local governments seek to increase their power with fees and regulations to tell us what we can and can’t do. These NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) groups have every right to voice their opinion, but they have no right to infringe on another’s rights to personal property. While it seems all fine and good to oppose the farmer’s cows or the new house on the vacant lot next door, it’s an entirely different story when the zoning administrator is knocking on your door because you have one too many chickens or you built that fence with the wrong material.
This trend should be incredibly concerning for all of us personally, and it is especially concerning to our farmers — one of the major drivers of our economy in the Dairy State. Our state is losing hundreds of dairy farms every year and the government and NIMBY groups aren’t making it any easier. In some cases, local governments are seeking to curtail what farmers are able to do with their own land to appease a very vocal but very small group of people in opposition, ignoring who really owns the land in the first place or what is already occurring on other properties in the community. In other cases, special interests are opposed to farmers leasing their less productive land for cell towers or renting their barns for weddings. Instead of protecting personal property rights, governments are making choices that weaponize government rules against our farmers.
Not only does this add even more unnecessary stress to our farmers who are our neighbors, but Joe and Jane taxpayer also pay the price when they pay their taxes and when they have to pay higher costs for the goods farmers produce.
I have no control over your local, state or federal government. And, admittedly, there are several laws from those governments that I swore an oath to enforce. However, I can promise you at the county level, I will continue to fight for small and effective government that puts the people first.
Instead of using government as a weapon, Washington County is striving to get government out of the way so our people can thrive. We’ve cut taxes to the lowest levels since WWI so taxpayers can keep more of their own money, and now we’re on pace to spend the least per capita in the state. We’ve worked to cut red tape, such as zoning reform, so families and businesses can afford to live and work in Washington County. We’ve cut zoning and subdivision permit fees in half, so it’s easier to get that project done and you can create prosperity. We are getting government out of the way.
Whether it be dairy farms, yard chickens, or a patio for our homes, property owners should always be in the driver’s seat. As county executive I will fight for you at the county level.
Together, we must not get sucked into the NIMBY attitude and must hold our elected officials accountable to protect our personal property rights from government overreach and special interests, no matter what level of government is involved.
(Josh Schoemann is the Washington County executive.)
Instead of using government as a weapon,Washington County is striving to get government out of the way so our people can thrive.
Schoemann
