Waukesha County

Recovery Plan 

State and Local Fiscal Recovery 

Funds

2021 Report
Waukesha County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 1

Waukesha County

2021 Recovery Plan

Table of Contents

General Overview ..............................................................................................................................2

Executive Summary...................................................................................................................................2

Uses of Funds............................................................................................................................................3

Promoting equitable outcomes................................................................................................................5

Community Engagement ..........................................................................................................................6

Labor Practices..........................................................................................................................................6

Use of Evidence.........................................................................................................................................7

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category.............................................................................................8

Project Inventory .............................................................................................................................10

Ineligible Activities: Tax Offset Provision ..........................................................................................12
Waukesha County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 2

General Overview

Executive Summary

Waukesha County is actively engaged in the evaluation of the American Rescue Plan Act 

(ARPA) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program’s interim final 

rules. The County is working on the incorporation of program design and reporting 

requirements that ensure program outcomes are achieved in an effective, efficient, and 

equitable manner.

As of August 31, 2021, Treasury has yet to issue final SLFRF rules. The most significant 

challenge to SLFRF program development is directly related to the need for final federal 

programing guidance. 

To effectively continue to respond to the pandemic and assist in local post pandemic recovery, 

Waukesha County has established an American Rescue Plan Act Management response team 

with representatives from countywide functional areas. To date, the County has focused on 

interpretation of the law and immediate pandemic response. The represented teams are as 

follows:

Team Function Public 

Advisory 

Government Operations Responsible for coordinating project requests and 

assisting departments through the budget, status 

reporting and completion of required Treasury 

financial, programmatic, and public reporting. 

County 

Executive, 

Waukesha 

County Board,

Finance 

Committee

Infrastructure Project Specific – Complete request, document 

category and manage approved project in 

compliance within category requirements (e.g. Davis 

Bacon). As needed, coordinate with departments 

and intergovernmental/private partnerships. 

County 

Executive, 

Waukesha 

County Board,

Public Works 

Committee

Emergency 

Preparedness/Public 

Health 

Project Specific / Pandemic Response and Capacity 

Building – Complete request, document pandemic 

response category and manage within category 

requirements. As needed, coordinate with 

departments and intergovernmental/private 

partnerships. 

Emergency Operations Center involvement as 

necessary for pandemic response.

County 

Executive, 

Waukesha 

County Board, 

Health and 

Human Services 

Committee, 

Health and 

Human Services 

Board 

Economic Recovery and 

Workforce Development 

Project Specific – Complete request, document 

response category and manage within category 

County 

Executive, 
Waukesha County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 3

requirements. As needed coordinate with 

departments and intergovernmental/private 

partnerships. 

Waukesha 

County Board,

Executive 

Committee, 

Workforce 

Development 

Board

Community Development –

Emergency Assistance 

Manage within Community Development Block 

Grant (CDBG) requirements. As needed, coordinate 

with departments and intergovernmental/private 

partnerships. Coordinate with Government 

Operations 

County 

Executive, 

Waukesha 

County Board, 

Health and 

Human Services 

Committee, 

Community 

Development 

Block Grant 

Board

Uses of Funds

Waukesha County has begun the planning process for utilizing American Rescue Plan funds to 

support a strong and equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic 

downturn. There are two initial targeted areas that the county has approved an allocation of 

grant funds until final guidance is provided, and analysis is performed.

Expenditure Category 2021 Allocated 

Funds

1. Public Health

Waukesha County has prioritized continued public health response 

through disease investigation, community-based testing efforts and

vaccination efforts. This includes staffing specific to pandemic 

response and the use of technology to improve response efficacy. 

Waukesha County has partnered with local schools, hospitals, and 

private organizations to provide information from subject matter experts

to assist local businesses and schools stay safe and stay open.

Communication efforts that began at the beginning of the pandemic 

continue. Examples of these efforts include public outreach and 

service coordination by proactively providing up to date information 

through the county website, wiki page and outreach via news release 

writing and distribution, social media communications, and rumor 

control. Communication efforts also include a dedicated call center and 

email to aid in the coordination of community resources and to answer 

$2,230,000
Waukesha County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 4

specific constituent questions related to vaccination, testing, disease 

investigation and contact tracing. 

The County also improved our ability to collect and visualize the data 

related to our COVID cases so that community leaders, schools, and 

business owners can make informed decisions regarding their day-today operations.

Waukesha County has reviewed Human Services technology and 

prioritized investments that would provide increased operational 

efficiency to benefit the value of the service provided to citizens. 

2. Negative Economic Impacts $0

3. Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities $0

4. Premium Pay $0

5. Water/Broadband Infrastructure $0

6. Revenue Replacement $0

7. Administrative and Other

Waukesha County has allocated funds toward administrative costs 

essential to a successful grant program. The County is investing in a 

data subscription that will be used to analyze the local economic and 

workforce markets. This data will help establish programs based on the 

needs of local economy. In addition, the County has funded internal 

and external resources to determine project eligibility, analyze 

benchmark county project initiatives, and ensure grant reporting 

compliance through a new financial position and outside consulting 

dollars.

$50,000

County’s use of other federal recovery funds

Throughout 2020 and 2021, federal legislative actions have provided the State of Wisconsin and 

local governments with a variety of funding sources to help respond to and recover from the 

COVID-19 pandemic. The largest funding sources in addition to the American Rescue Plan 

Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds are from the following programs:

• State of Wisconsin Routes to Recovery Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security 

Act (CARES) - $7.3 million

• CARES Community Development Block Grant COVID funding (CDBG-CV) - $2.2 million

• Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act Rental Assistance 

(CRSSAA) Program - $26.5 million

• ARPA Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program - $9.5 million

• ARPA Affordable Housing Program - $5.3 million

• Transit Assistance (CARES, CRSSAA, and ARPA) - $6.3 million

• State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services Public Health Funding - $7.7 million

CDBG-CV funding made available to the County by Department of Housing and Urban 

Development (HUD) through the CARES Act was used to prevent, prepare for and respond to the 

spread of coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) and facilitate assistance to eligible communities, 

households, and persons economically impacted by COVID-19. The CDBG-CV funds were 
Waukesha County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 5

allocated to nonprofit organizations in Waukesha County who carried out a variety of activities 

including: assisting low- and moderate-income households with rental assistance for up to six 

months, expanding homeless services including creating a hotel program to de-congregate 

homeless shelters, expanding meal and food programs, small business grants, mortgage 

assistance for low income homeowners, expansion of medical services in the free medical clinics, 

and support of other COVID-19 response services such as paying for the purchase of PPE and 

sanitation services. 

ERA funding made available to the County by the U.S. Treasury Department through the CARES 

Act and ARPA is being used to create an Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) for 

Waukesha County tenants and landlords. The County sub-contracted with a nonprofit 

organization, Community Advocates, Inc., to administer the program, which started at the end of 

March 2021. Grants are available for rental and utility arrears for up to 12 months, and for rent 

assistance going forward, for three months at a time. Renters and landlords can apply for the 

funding online at renterhelp.org. 

Waukesha County produced an ERAP marketing campaign in conjunction with Milwaukee 

County, to reach out to disadvantaged communities through ads on buses, print ads, social 

media, and radio ads in English and Spanish with a special target toward the Spanish language 

radio station and newspapers in the metro area. Waukesha County also issued press releases 

and gave interviews with the Waukesha Freeman to promote the program. In addition, the 

County produced flyers about the ERAP program and contacted County departments that work 

with the low-income population, like the economic support division, and nonprofit partner 

agencies, to promote and publicize the rent assistance program to their clients.

Waukesha County continues to analyze funding sources as they become available. We 

prioritize using funding sources for multi-eligible projects that have the most restrictions on 

eligible uses and funding periods first. 

Promoting equitable outcomes 

The County is still in the process of establishing guidelines for program selection and 

implementation. As of August 31st, 2021, the County has created a project request form that 

provides the listing of expenditure categories and associated reporting requirements. 

Departments will be required to detail at initiation how they will address the promotion of 

equitable outcomes and report out on meeting this objective. 

As was the case with our pandemic response through March 2nd, 2021, Waukesha County 

works to outreach underserved communities. Past pandemic related examples include the 

following:

• To make COVID-19 testing more accessible to the Hispanic community, the County 

collaborated with community-based organizations that provide economic and 

educational services to the Hispanic population in Waukesha County. 

• To allow for testing of the low-income community, a testing site was established at the 

Waukesha Free Clinic.

• A County run hotline was established for Waukesha County residents without access to 

the internet.
Waukesha County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 6

• A team was formed in late March 2020 to address de-congregating high-risk individuals 

at the homeless shelters in Waukesha County and provide temporary alternate housing.

Community Engagement 

Waukesha County will be utilizing established boards and committees that are either elected by 

citizens or appointed by elected officials to address the needs of the community as follows:

Public Advisory Board/Committee objective

Waukesha County Executive and 

American Rescue Plan Act 

Management Teams

Waukesha County Executive leads a multidisciplinary 

management team which will solicit input from the public 

through outreach to local and state governments, non-profit 

organizations, and community advocacy groups.

Waukesha County Board/standing 

committees

The Waukesha County Board consists of elected County 

Board supervisors responsible for the oversight of policy and 

financial oversight for county government.

Health and Human Services Board The Waukesha County Health and Human Services Board 

consists of 7 to 15 members; the requirements of membership 

are defined in Wisconsin State statute and ensure that all 

stakeholders are fairly represented during meetings of the 

HHS board.

Workforce Development Board The Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington (WOW) Workforce 

Development Board is one of Wisconsin’s eleven regional 

Boards originally established by the Workforce Investment Act 

of 1998 (WIA) to address local economic workforce issues in 

Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington Counties. The Board 

works in collaboration with local elected officials, economic 

development corporations, businesses, and the community to 

address macroeconomic workforce issues in the 3-county 

area. It is committed to finding workforce solutions through 

long-term planning and timely responses to the changing 

economy.

Community Development Block 

Grant Board

The CDBG program is governed by an 11-member Board of 

Directors, appointed by the Waukesha County Executive. 

Responsible for public service programs that address issues 

such as: homeless prevention and shelter, food and nutrition, 

medical care, domestic abuse, parenting, mental health, and 

transportation for low and moderate income people. Funds are 

also used for affordable housing, public facilities and 

improvements, and economic development.

Labor Practices 
Waukesha County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 7

There are currently no planned infrastructure projects for water, sewer, or broadband in 

Waukesha County.

Use of Evidence 

The County is still in the process of determining which programs will be implemented in the 

future. As of August 31st, 2021, the County has created a project request form that provides the 

listing of expenditure categories and associated reporting requirements. Departments will be 

required to detail at initiation if the project will incorporate evidence based interventions, how the 

data will be collected and reported on a quarterly basis. 

Program implementations require budget modification. The Table of Expenses by Expenditure 

Category reflect only amounts approved and appropriated as of August 31, 2021. As Treasury 

rules are finalized, and projects are recommended and appropriated, Waukesha County will 

update the Expenses by Category table and post at www.waukeshacounty.gov . 

As was the case with our pandemic response through March 2nd, 2021, Waukesha County takes 

a broad approach to prioritizing data driven decisions and initiatives that result in increased 

efficiency, cost savings and program effectiveness.
Waukesha County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 8

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

1 Expenditure Category: Public Health

1.1 COVID-19 Vaccination $0 $0

1.2 COVID-19 Testing $0 $0

1.3 COVID-19 Contact Tracing $0 $0

1.4 Prevention in Congregate Settings (Nursing 

Homes, Prisons/Jails, Dense Work Sites, 

Schools, etc.)

$0 $0

1.5 Personal Protective Equipment $0 $0

1.6 Medical Expenses (including Alternative Care 

Facilities)

$0 $0

1.7 Capital Investments or Physical Plant Changes 

to Public Facilities that respond to the COVID19 public health emergency

$0 $0

1.8 Other COVID-19 Public Health Expenses 

(including Communications, Enforcement, 

Isolation/Quarantine)

$0 $0

1.9 Payroll Costs for Public Health, Safety, and 

Other Public Sector Staff Responding to 

COVID-19

$0 $0

1.10 Mental Health Services $0 $0

1.11 Substance Use Services $0 $0

1.12 Other Public Health Services $0 $0

2 Expenditure Category: Negative Economic 

Impacts

2.1 Household Assistance: Food Programs $0 $0

2.2 Household Assistance: Rent, Mortgage, and 

Utility Aid 

$0 $0

2.3 Household Assistance: Cash Transfers $0 $0

2.4 Household Assistance: Internet Access 

Programs

$0 $0

2.5 Household Assistance: Eviction Prevention $0 $0

2.6 Unemployment Benefits or Cash Assistance to 

Unemployed Workers

$0 $0

2.7 Job Training Assistance (e.g., Sectoral jobtraining, Subsidized Employment, Employment 

Supports or Incentives)

$0 $0

2.8 Contributions to UI Trust Funds* $0 $0

2.9 Small Business Economic Assistance (General) $0 $0

2.10 Aid to nonprofit organizations $0 $0

2.11 Aid to Tourism, Travel, or Hospitality $0 $0

2.12 Aid to Other Impacted Industries $0 $0
Waukesha County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 9

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

2.13 Other Economic Support $0 $0

2.14 Rehiring Public Sector Staff $0 $0

3 Expenditure Category: Services to 

Disproportionately Impacted Communities

3.1 Education Assistance: Early Learning $0 $0

3.2 Education Assistance: Aid to High-Poverty 

Districts

$0 $0

3.3 Education Assistance: Academic Services $0 $0

3.4 Education Assistance: Social, Emotional, and 

Mental Health Services 

$0 $0

3.5 Education Assistance: Other $0 $0

3.6 Healthy Childhood Environments: Child Care $0 $0

3.7 Healthy Childhood Environments: Home Visiting $0 $0

3.8 Healthy Childhood Environments: Services to 

Foster Youth or Families Involved in Child 

Welfare System 

$0 $0

3.9. Healthy Childhood Environments: Other $0 $0

3.10 Housing Support: Affordable Housing $0 $0

3.11 Housing Support: Services for Unhoused 

persons 

$0 $0

3.12 Housing Support: Other Housing Assistance $0 $0

3.13 Social Determinants of Health: Other $0 $0

3.14 Social Determinants of Health: Community 

Health Workers or Benefits Navigators 

$0 $0

3.15 Social Determinants of Health: Lead 

Remediation

$0 $0

3.16 Social Determinants of Health: Community 

Violence Interventions 

$0 $0

4 Expenditure Category: Premium Pay

4.1 Public Sector Employees $0 $0

4.2 Private Sector: Grants to other employers $0 $0

5 Expenditure Category: Infrastructure

5.1 Clean Water: Centralized wastewater treatment $0 $0

5.2 Clean Water: Centralized wastewater collection 

and conveyance

$0 $0

5.3 Clean Water: Decentralized wastewater $0 $0

5.4 Clean Water: Combined sewer overflows $0 $0

5.5 Clean Water: Other sewer infrastructure $0 $0

5.6 Clean Water: Stormwater $0 $0

5.7 Clean Water: Energy conservation $0 $0

5.8 Clean Water: Water conservation $0 $0

5.9 Clean Water: Nonpoint source $0 $0
Waukesha County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 10

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

5.10 Drinking water: Treatment $0 $0

5.11 Drinking water: Transmission & distribution $0 $0

5.12 Drinking water: Transmission & distribution: 

lead remediation

$0 $0

5.13 Drinking water: Source $0 $0

5.14 Drinking water: Storage $0 $0

5.15 Drinking water: Other water infrastructure $0 $0

5.16 Broadband: “Last Mile” projects $0 $0

5.17 Broadband: Other projects $0 $0

6 Expenditure Category: Revenue Replacement

6.1 Provision of Government Services $0 $0

7 Administrative and Other

7.1 Administrative Expenses $0 $0

7.2 Evaluation and data analysis $0 $0

7.3 Transfers to Other Units of Government $0 $0

7.4 Transfers to Non-entitlement Units 

(States and Territories only)

$0 $0

Project Inventory 

Project 2701: American Rescue Plan Act Financial Management and Administration

Funding amount: $50,000

Project Expenditure Category: [7.1, Administrative Expenses]

Project overview

• New senior financial position for management of financial tracking, ongoing fiscal 

projections, grant reporting, and other related tasks.

• Consulting services needed to assist with project eligibility interpretation, grant 

compliance, and strategically aligning programs with county financial planning 

objectives.

• Economic and labor data subscription to conduct data analysis and impact studies to 

help determine economic assistance programs and recovery efforts.

Use of Evidence

Waukesha County will be investing in a data subscription to allow county staff to prioritize 

programs utilizing the ARPA funds based current local market data trends.

Project 2703: Public Health Response

Funding amount: $1,500,000

Project Expenditure Category: [1.1, Vaccination]; [1.2, Testing]; [1.3, Contact Tracing]

Project overview: Waukesha County continues to actively monitor and respond to the public 

health emergency through disease investigation, supporting testing efforts, and providing 
Waukesha County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 11

support for community vaccination efforts as additional age groups are eligible to receive 

vaccinations. This project was approved to incorporate all public health outreach efforts to 

allow for flexibility in prioritizing response efforts between categories as new information 

regarding community response needs become available. 

Outreach to disadvantaged communities:

• To make COVID-19 testing more accessible to the Hispanic community, the Testing 

Section collaborated with La Casa De Esperanza to establish an onsite testing site. La 

Casa De Esperanza is a community-based organization that provides economic and 

educational services to the Hispanic population in Waukesha County. 

• To allow for testing of the low-income community that may not have a primary care 

provider, a testing site was also established at the Waukesha Free Clinic to offer testing 

to individuals who did not have a primary care provider. 

• Waukesha County residents without access to the internet were able to access a county 

run information hotline for information on testing, vaccination, or other COVID-19 related 

questions.

• A team was formed in late March 2020 to address de-congregating the homeless 

shelters in Waukesha County. The team worked with four homeless shelters (The 

Salvation Army, and three Hebron Housing Services shelters) to identify high risk 

individuals who should be segregated from the general shelter population to keep them 

safe (older than 65, health issues, etc.) Shelters were also asked to determine what their 

maximum capacity was to house guests in a way that kept them socially distanced from 

other guests (i.e. no crowded dormitory style housing). Approximately 30-40 individuals 

needed to be moved out of the congregate shelter system into individual hotel rooms

Project 202014: Health and Human Services Technology System Enhancements

Funding amount: $730,000

Project Expenditure Category: [1.12, Other Public Health Services]

Project overview

• This project includes the creation of a contract management module to allow for Health 

and Human Services to effectively and efficiently manage the life cycle of contracts and 

grants versus current paper-based process. 

• The project includes the implementation of system that specializes in public health and 

disease tracking. This provides enhanced access to data to more efficiently and 

effectively respond to the pandemic or public health related outbreaks. In addition, the 

department will be able to efficiently provide public health data to the State of Wisconsin. 

This system will also streamline the disease investigation process performed by county 

staff. Lastly, this system has enhanced reporting capabilities that will improve the 

County’s ability to analyze public health trends.

• Funding has been allocated towards a system implementation that allows vendors 

providing services to Waukesha County health clients the ability to provide standardized 

electronic records to county case workers. This allows the County to provide better 

quality assurance and program outcomes versus the current paper intensive process.
Waukesha County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 12

Ineligible Activities: Tax Offset Provision

Item Amount

a. Revenue-reducing Covered Changes $ 0