By Press Times Staff
Brown County voters have the opportunity to vote in the county executive race on April 2.
The county executive is the chief executive officer and chief elected official of the county.
The office is responsible for the administration and management of the county.
Incumbent Troy Streckenbach faces off against challenger Mark Berndt.
Streckenbach is a lifelong resident of Brown County and grew up in the greater Green Bay area.
He has owned and operated six businesses in the county in the past 20 years.
Streckenbach first took office in April 2011, and was reelected in 2015.
Berndt has 18 years of experience working in financial services.
Berndt won elections for both Green Bay alderman and Brown County supervisor for District 7 in 1994, winning re-election as a Green Bay alderman again in 1996.
In 1999, Berndt and his family moved to Wrightstown.
He then served as chairman on the Wrightstown Zoning Board of Appeals from 2001 to present.
The Press Times reached out to each candidate and gave them the same questions with a word limit of 100 for each answer.
Troy Streckenbach
Why should people vote for you?
I ran to strengthen our community by bringing fiscal responsibility to county government along with small business common sense.
That’s exactly what we’ve done.
When I was first elected, our economy was struggling, mountains of debt accumulated and we faced a $3.5 million structural deficit.
Today, the economy has grown by over $3 billion.
We reduced expenses by $9.5 million, eliminated over $53 million in debt and provided the largest tax rate cut in a decade.
We are still making $147 million in smart investments in infrastructure projects.
I want to keep us headed in the right direction.
What is the biggest issue facing Brown County currently?
The long-term success of our county depends on continuing to grow our economy.
I want Brown County to be the best place in the country to start, expand or relocate a business. That will result in a larger tax base to help pay for needed public services.
But, most importantly, it will lead to family-supporting jobs for our children and grandchildren.
To make this goal a reality, I’ll continue to hold the line on taxes and keep our county fiscally stable.
I’ll also work with our municipalities through TIF support and prioritizing road projects to accommodate business development.
Do you believe a half-percent county sales tax is needed now in Brown County? Why or why not?
I want to keep our county on solid fiscal ground.
That’s why I developed and am implementing our tax relief, debt reduction and infrastructure plan.
Under this plan, which includes a temporary half-percent sales tax, we will cut the county’s debt in half and reduce the tax levy (excluding new construction) by 2024.
We’ll also address the most pressing needs of our aging community infrastructure – especially upgrading our county road system.
Seeing this plan through to fruition requires an experienced leader willing to make tough choices.
I think I have shown I am up to that challenge.
What is the best method for ensuring continued development in Brown County?
It starts with making sure the county is fiscally sound.
Businesses shy away from unstable government.
Making smart investments in infrastructure is also important.
A recent success we had was securing $20 million from the federal government for the VV-29 interchange on the Howard-Hobart border.
I personally traveled to D.C. and spoke with the White House about the project, which is not only a safety issue, but a business development opportunity.
I also was proud to lead the effort to build the STEM Center on the UWGB campus, which will help build a pipeline of engineers for local companies.
Mark Berndt
Why should people vote for you?
As a former county supervisor and with 18 years in the financial services sector, I know how to legally and ethically handle funds without putting taxpayers at risk.
The role of the executive is to administer and manage the county’s debt, infrastructure and property tax.
The current executive has implemented a sales tax, but is using it for new expenditures, making it illegal.
The penalty is loss of shared state revenue equal to the over $20 million collected in 2018 in sales tax revenue which isn’t reducing our property tax.
Troy has put us at risk for $20 million.
What is the biggest issue facing Brown County currently?
Since Troy’s infrastructure plan is based on the generation and use of the sales tax revenue, once it is ruled unconstitutional it will collapse.
We will need to access and address new solutions for road repair and payment for the new projects already started, so don’t tear down the arena yet.
With only $2 million left in the tax levy limit, due to nearly $12 million in budget increases his past term, which is a 15 percent increase, or 40 percent if you include the sales tax, the challenge will be what we can actually afford.
Do you believe a half-percent county sales tax is needed now in Brown County? Why or why not?
The sales tax can only legally be used for the direct reduction of property tax.
I’m running because Steckenbach isn’t using our sales tax to reduce property tax.
More than 11 percent of the sales tax comes from outside of the county and therefore when used properly, it reduces the cost for all property holders and is beneficial.
I have always stated that I was for a sales tax that is used for property tax reduction, but not one used for an additional tax and for items that should go to the people in the form of a referendum.
What is the best method for ensuring continued development in Brown County?
By executing well-planned developments with clear communications and transparency.
No projects would be rushed for approval.
I support economic development throughout the entire county, but items rushed before the board in Streckenbach’s last term cost the county greatly.
An additional $3 million on the site improvement for Green Bay Packaging and the rushed sales tax approval could cost us millions more in shared revenue.
The economic package for Denmark was very well planned.
Its impact will be great for that area and it will have a good return on the investment in terms of job creation and future development.