OPERATING AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE

Chapter 45 of the Wisconsin Statutes requires a Veterans Service Office in each county. The State contributes $13,000 annually towards the Service Office budget; the balance comes from the county.

The office assists all eligible ex-servicemen and women and their dependents in securing any aid or benefits that may be due to them under Federal or State law because of their service in the armed forces of the United States. Benefits include health care, home loans, burial, insurance, disability compensation, pension, personal debt consolidation loans, emergency subsistence aid grants and food vouchers, along with educational grants and loans. The staff assists in locating military or medical records and in arranging transportation to the Milwaukee VA Medical Center.

We maintain a full time office at the Dennis Kornwolf Racine County Service Building ( Workforce Development Center) and a twice-monthly office at the Western Racine County Service Center in Burlington. We also offer home visits to shut-ins. This office maintains an active presence in local veterans' activities, including parades, holiday ceremonies and educational and fraternal events.

EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES  

Efforts continue to ensure Racine County veterans take advantage of all benefits due to them. A measure of success in this area can be found in the fact that, in 2003, local veterans received $11,207,000 in VA health care; $16,993,000 in disability payments; $782,000 in education benefits; $1,299,000 in life insurance payments; and they borrowed $38,413,668 in VA-guaranteed home loans. Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs spending added another $2,870,336 in loans and grants. The popularity of that department’s programs is largely determined by prevailing interest rates.  

2005 GOALS AND BUDGET STRATEGIES 

Further integration into the Workforce Development Center "Team" concept presents new opportunity to expand the reach of this department. As part of the Veterans Services Unit, we will enjoy greater exposure to the recently unemployed and recently discharged veteran.