By the numbers
Among Wisconsin’s large counties, Jefferson County’s government spent the most per resident — more than twice as much as the lowest-spending county government, Waukesha, according to data from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.
The state agency’s latest annual report on county and municipal finances includes spending data from 2023.
Among Wisconsin’s 20 largest counties by population, Jefferson County spent the most at $1,511 per capita. Dane County was in second place, at $1,443 per person, and Rock County was third at $1,414. Jefferson’s immediate eastern neighbor, Waukesha County, spent only $687 per person.
Across counties of all sizes, Waushara and Iron counties had drastically higher per-person spending, at $3,806 and $3,681 respectively. Those counties are smaller, however, with populations of only 24,445 and 6,108.
