[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6089007,"mediaKeyId","2878209-72c280e2ed8a42e897006f408559f5f3","parentId",2878209,"title","Supervisors discuss interim county role to preserve Northland College parcels along White River","audioSeconds",512,"startMs",4057000,"endMs",4569000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2878209-72c280e2ed8a42e897006f408559f5f3&start=4057&end=4569","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2878209-72c280e2ed8a42e897006f408559f5f3/thumbnail_4057000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6089007/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Supervisors-discuss-interim-county-role-to-preserve-Northland-College-parcels-along-White-River","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089007-c7d9a796a8fcdf2205e519df951eb97c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775227062&Signature=gvVibn7zpKfXkd2vtF~ENlMNwTJjs2h5T62BfTu2-Ise1byACqO7frg-BjRc6-XUG~dJppNsCISnXF1y5ZJvegHzc-2JJPivTbWl5HRGwN282bYRInyydOv96-391OgcbWOG65R5PaF1zcRS-qIXAYoU0dOmbDi1QKugFPXnj6j7nbV933n3Tw5x6USpso-HrIZ6G20WIR1zKdLrpG2mVGaI4sy49m1Ifs134Gj0KrAIA-nuz3e5fma-idIDAcePq08tQvOZQA0C4acw2FZKw5capIifiLYTtsZTAc-qwJlid8zIyZDujmNs9bGzc-rgadh9WqGOgT~2coEJijH81A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ashland County, WI","date","2025-04-04T13:00:44Z","article","County supervisors discussed a possible interim role for Ashland County to help preserve land Northland College may sell as the college moves to liquidate some properties.

Why it matters: The parcels in question include roughly a 90-acre portion in Ashland County and an adjacent roughly 30-acre parcel in Bayfield County on the White River. Speakers said the Ashland portion’s original conservation restrictions expired two years ago, which could put the property at risk of redevelopment if a buyer does not maintain reservations for public-access recreation and habitat protection. Supervisors said preserving the parcels would be consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan objectives to protect environmental corridors, water quality and recreational access.

Supervisor Boussay (chairing the comprehensive plan update) described discussions with Northland College representatives and the Landmark Conservancy; the college’s preference, as described to county staff, is to keep the land in conservation and public use if feasible. County staff said an interim county acquisition — followed by application for state stewardship funds (Knowles-Nelson funds) or transfer to a conservancy — could preserve trails, parking and public access while a larger funding or stewardship solution is assembled. County staff warned that state stewardship and conservancy transfers can be time-consuming and that Northland may need quicker cash if it sells assets to address liquidity.

Operational considerations raised included ongoing overhead for buildings on the property, who would manage the parcel long-term if the county took interim title, and whether the Northland College Alumni Association or other partners might help with operating costs. Supervisors expressed general support for staff to pursue conversations with Northland College and Bayfield County to evaluate options; no purchase was authorized at the meeting.

Ending: Supervisors asked staff to continue confidential conversations and to report back with cost estimates, potential partners, and timetables for applying for stewardship funds if the college confirms interest in a conservation outcome.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ashland County Finance & Economic Dev. 4/3/25","oneSentenceSummary","Supervisors and staff discussed a possible short-term county intervention to acquire and preserve parcels Northland College intends to sell, with the goal of placing them under conservation protection and later transferring them to a conservancy or stewardship program.","taxTitle","Ashland County, Wisconsin","taxId",72843,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089012,"Committee hears City of Ashland TID plan aimed at funding downtown apartment project",839,2909000,3748000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2878209-72c280e2ed8a42e897006f408559f5f3&start=2909&end=3748","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2878209-72c280e2ed8a42e897006f408559f5f3/thumbnail_2909000.jpg","/articles/6089012/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Committee-hears-City-of-Ashland-TID-plan-aimed-at-funding-downtown-apartment-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089012-7c42273fba74c3844bc4d9d382b0880a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775227062&Signature=N9uRNEEXyxcX8byWQJofUY5u7jpgdBk4VoeLyodd9geJwNerc3W9nbpEF8-QvtyzPeq5vyIjOeOXj6f~-peEf0VLj~rg64kFIDSFDM0Z5qQ3ChJe~uSwBDEApWTlbhbNHbhdNbdUUDbCc~8Mxp3wPojp~Fbw6pJ4AmEstkSAy-O9FJxjc~pag56mbXNb6PURN3ZsAt8Y-2y3krRYWUgHYoiljUmn~6WOnncDXXfLxMxcre3kE0qHh0T8JQ3f6pfKiJXdwvnJ1XqkWJinalEX2JQU68cwU7Rmo2zdwD12iknjSx1yTr1pmT84CC2IbqQnNeTgXJf5i1wrDZh5LG7Fww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Ashland County Finance and Economic Development Committee discussed the City of Ashland’s proposed Tax Increment District (TID) plan, which the city intends to use to finance infrastructure and developer incentives for a downtown housing development.

Why it matters: The TID would capture future increases in property tax revenue within a defined district to pay for infrastructure, developer incentives and other projects. That captured “tax increment” does not change historic base allocations to the county, school district or technical college, but the distribution of future increments affects who pays for improvements and how much of the increased value is available as incentives.

A county speaker who detailed the mechanism described a TID as follows: the district’s base property value remains distributed to taxing jurisdictions; as property values rise because of development, the increase — called the tax increment — is retained for the TID to pay for infrastructure, debt service and incentives. The presentation included an estimate of about $19 million in total tax increment over the life of the district (to 2051), with a planned $3.5 million incentive to the developer and approximately $3.775 million in proposed city borrowing for immediate infrastructure needs. The city is evaluating whether to use general-obligation borrowing or TIF revenue bonds; using TIF revenue bonds would place repayment on the increment rather than the city’s full-faith-and-credit and could preserve the city’s general-obligation borrowing capacity.

Supervisors raised local concerns: whether contiguous parcels in the district could lead to future condemnation (speakers said the city had no present plan to condemn and would likely make market offers for properties) and how the district’s borrowing could impact the city’s ability to issue other general-obligation debt. A county finance advisor noted that general-obligation borrowing tied to the city can limit the city’s future bonding capacity and that TIF revenue bonds are an alternative that relies on the increment to repay debt.

Committee members discussed potential county benefits (new housing supply, more business activity and future property-tax base growth) and risks (added city debt load and the possibility that incentives reduce short-term increment available for infrastructure). Several supervisors asked for additional clarity on the city’s financing decisions and the district map, and staff said they would follow up with more detailed materials.

Ending: The committee did not take formal action; members requested additional financial detail from the city to understand the district’s projected increment, planned debt service, and developer incentives.","Committee members received an extended presentation explaining the City of Ashland’s proposed Tax Increment District (TID) to support a 30–50-unit apartment project, a $19 million projected increment, and up to $3.5 million in developer incentives; supervisors discussed potential county impacts and debt considerations.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089017,"Finance committee approves purchase of new truck for Land Conservation using insurance and tree-and-shrub funds",1154,1668000,2822000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2878209-72c280e2ed8a42e897006f408559f5f3&start=1668&end=2822","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2878209-72c280e2ed8a42e897006f408559f5f3/thumbnail_1668000.jpg","/articles/6089017/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Finance-committee-approves-purchase-of-new-truck-for-Land-Conservation-using-insurance-and-tree-and-shrub-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089017-ec4edd71387408657352fb87f49ddded/orig.mp4?Expires=1775227062&Signature=g8Lmy2Ar5sda2QTyBzgFmME7em3zGEHvVN~xEhrm9EXI9jIHxUJrC4p4tVUWmYQXZuJy5pqhRttEjoYdJExcppcXoCONrexw2DecOSr1M8-Oy7rmeERNn9Z6B8cUny~jIQ2mpwxiqE65TJxN4K9eHjPNNtu~c0oUBbi5smMMibxfHxnDiHDNAV72lsObjKIh3nbd0UGzHmgHV9RqoooJzePTbIy22mpsQNxDHd35QY2wZ4r2UmhfReT445S~NafiVPNhzjPfPydldGqPxopUHsPkFJu0gUzRSDSHdg0X6UZC2WUV9oW7KE16Csfl1QttrQrw94hzLbtUwNfnEhSHvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ashland County Finance and Economic Development Committee approved purchasing a new 2025 GMC Sierra truck for the Land Conservation Department after staff said the department’s vehicle was totaled in a winter crash.

Why it matters: The Land Conservation Department uses trucks to tow a boat and a no-till farm planter; staff said the current vehicles lacked sufficient towing capacity for both implements. The department received an insurance settlement and proposed purchasing a new vehicle soon because of impending tariffs that could raise new-vehicle prices.

Department head Mary Jo told the committee the totaled vehicle produced an insurance payout of $22,554.50. She presented two purchase options: a brand-new 2025 GMC Sierra offered at a government price of $44,004.79 from Don Johnson in Hayward, and a used 2018 Chevy Silverado offered at $26,500 from Ashland Ford Chrysler. Mary Jo said the new GMC has towing and crew-cab capability necessary to haul the no-till drill (the drill weighs about 3,500 pounds) and the boat used for summer fieldwork.

Financing and motion: Committee members discussed funding sources. Staff recommended using the insurance proceeds plus remaining money currently held in the department’s tree-and-shrub account before that account is closed to the general fund, to avoid triggering a county-board budget amendment. The final motion (moved and restated on the record) authorized purchase of the new 2025 GMC Sierra from Don Johnson for $44,004.79 using the $22,554.50 insurance proceeds and the remaining tree-and-shrub funds; Ronald Stender seconded. A voice vote was recorded as “Aye” and the motion carried (yes:5, no:0).

Operational details: Staff noted towing limits on the planter (must be towed at low speeds, not above ~20 mph) and confirmed the selected vehicle has a trailer towing package and sufficient towing capacity for department needs.

Ending: County staff will finalize the purchase and prepare a budget motion or administrative transfer to show the transaction in the county’s accounting system before moving the tree-and-shrub account balance back to the general fund.","The committee approved buying a 2025 GMC Sierra for the Land Conservation Department at a government price of $44,004.79, using the $22,554.50 insurance payout and remaining funds from the department’s tree-and-shrub account prior to that fund’s planned transfer back to the general fund.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089022,"Committee probes why some Ashland property tax bills rose even as county collections rose 3.4%",724,943000,1667000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2878209-72c280e2ed8a42e897006f408559f5f3&start=943&end=1667","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2878209-72c280e2ed8a42e897006f408559f5f3/thumbnail_943000.jpg","/articles/6089022/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Committee-probes-why-some-Ashland-property-tax-bills-rose-even-as-county-collections-rose-34","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089022-7dee6b65834d6c3314e218f33a7c4832/orig.mp4?Expires=1775227062&Signature=ewEl57ZYQK5BEU3i7qiI3bWfW-9lxWnFjZUBSxVCYeynZ~urIrx~tvn1BDVISuuTjaldgKE36GM84Oy89wQyj04aV2FDykJB5kW4jou7JwRunpDxU8PbVqPm3H6-mbGXUdvubyJZGptYcc2j1l27jfDuFgu3w3-T6xxzJKY9FfbPbcZKiXE1TBCvksV8Y17hIMIwgxEQOU6w4YTKfe9Bi9R5IkHh89p5fLA69Bd01WGnWurCpDnG4kry4sHtQkKyrytpQun4kpiByGUHcHBnj1tv8gZUSbm-41bNSzpTIqLhl01tF2tEnHR8VuH51cUuWBMMz~beRw8zG7~3JcdinQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members spent an extended portion of the meeting trying to explain why some homeowners in the City of Ashland saw tax bills rise about 5.1% even though countywide tax levy collections were projected to increase by about 3.4%.

Why it matters: Changes in assessed values, local reassessments, and the state’s equalization process determine how the county, city, school district and other taxing jurisdictions apportion levy burdens. For individual taxpayers, the interaction of a property’s assessed value with those apportionments can produce increases or decreases that differ from the countywide average.

Dan (administrator/staff) and other speakers explained several factors that can produce the discrepancy: (1) municipal reassessments done at different times can change an individual property’s share of the city’s tax base; (2) the Department of Revenue’s equalized-value adjustments allocate the county levy among towns, cities and villages, producing “slice of the pie” shifts when some municipal equalized values rise and others fall; and (3) reductions in state credits such as the lottery credit or school credits can increase what appears on a homeowner’s bill.

Committee members and residents discussed examples: the town of La Pointe saw a large equalized-value drop while the City of Ashland’s equalized value increased after a multi-year reassessment, shifting a larger share of the county levy onto City of Ashland property owners. Speakers emphasized that an individual homeowner’s bill depends on where the house is assessed relative to other properties in the same municipality.

No formal action was taken. Several committee members asked staff to provide more tax-bill examples and to show GIS-based property-level data so supervisors can trace how equalized-value shifts and local reassessments change specific bills.

Ending: Staff said they will provide additional detail and property-level examples at a future meeting so supervisors can better understand the calculations behind individual tax-bill changes.","Committee members and staff discussed how reassessments and shifting equalized values between towns and the city of Ashland produced disparate tax-bill changes for property owners; no formal action was taken.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089027,"Finance consultants advise claiming ARPA as lost revenue; committee votes to consolidate funds",0,5721000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2878209-72c280e2ed8a42e897006f408559f5f3&start=5721&end=5721","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2878209-72c280e2ed8a42e897006f408559f5f3/thumbnail_5721000.jpg","/articles/6089027/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Finance-consultants-advise-claiming-ARPA-as-lost-revenue-committee-votes-to-consolidate-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089027-6f01b25d6a5426746d5de78a6e71b9b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775227062&Signature=F9LR0xSbUbXTZDRwhEvc6esvDJbL-xTZ1Jetgx9BwcKgNSQXnL5dwvPWblCirC6ohr~bihk7j-HnxAcztWl4Z5AQUR2sDkr7QLSqkw6QoeKGQxF3wd7kxSz9IhMx~JEcTj~AwUaqMhvJtBr8hNED7lYLtYKPVV-UNL5sZ4pEQZmobPJCFrwE~L2424XnZ8LiJ7XbA4XXssp4QqTCDLZ2hgisVPMCX0xezSsyHV9riRZnIZjfNIn~3HzAyHSwSpXX1H8aG8wO3ZDU8ahrn4RLpFOzYSZR9C4Lkt3oaA2exjskdwqm1EeMI1Ys5XjlsPeTdDS8nApWotfv5EvHIniMQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ashland County Finance and Economic Development Committee voted to consolidate several small fund accounts into the county general fund and heard from outside financial consultants about upcoming reporting and audit deadlines.

Consultants Steve (financial consultant) and Mike (financial consultant) told the committee their plan is to file a first-quarter 2025 update in April and to coordinate with the county’s auditors, who are scheduled to begin the audit in the coming week. Steve said the county’s state financial report is due May 15 and that the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) report will be due in April.

Why it matters: The consultants advised a filing approach that would reduce reporting risk and simplify accounting. Instead of amending previously reported project allocations for three open ARPA projects, Steve said the consultants intend to “claim it all as lost revenue, which you're eligible for.” That approach would place ARPA receipts into the general fund as unrestricted revenue; the committee can later transfer or appropriate funds for a previously adopted purpose such as a health-insurance closeout.

Steve and Mike described practical next steps: coordinate with Sue and Dan to deliver documentation to the audit firm, complete the state report by May 15, and submit the ARPA report in April. Steve noted the county had roughly $3,000,000 of ARPA funding and that, per documents already filed in April of the prior year, the county is treated as having committed those funds to projects for reporting purposes.

Consultants also recommended administrative simplification: Kerber’s prepared financial statements roll several small funds into the general fund, and with the county’s accounting system (Springbrook) now producing consistent reports, it makes operational sense to close some separate funds. Steve said separating small items such as “uniform allowance” complicates departmental bookkeeping and audit reconciliations. The consultants said some funds show deficits (red) and others positive balances (green); consolidating will cause the general fund to absorb deficits and gain positive balances.

Committee action: The Finance Committee approved the consolidation of fund accounts into the general fund. The motion to consolidate was made by Blake Allison and seconded by Brad Ray; the voice vote passed with all present voting in favor (yes:5, no:0). The committee also approved the Finance and Economic Development Committee meeting minutes from Feb. 6, 2025 (motion carried by voice vote).

What they did not decide: The committee did not yet reallocate the consolidated balances to specific departmental budgets; staff said those adjustments will be reflected in the next budget amendment process and in the county’s audit tie-outs.

Ending: Consultants said they will return with the county’s first-quarter 2025 financials in April and will assist with audit coordination and ARPA reporting.","County financial consultants told the Finance and Economic Development Committee they will file Ashland County’s ARPA as lost revenue and recommended rolling multiple small funds back into the general fund. The committee approved consolidating those funds into the general fund.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Supervisors discuss interim county role to preserve Northland College parcels along White River

Committee hears City of Ashland TID plan aimed at funding downtown apartment project

Finance committee approves purchase of new truck for Land Conservation using insurance and tree-and-shrub funds

Committee probes why some Ashland property tax bills rose even as county collections rose 3.4%

Finance consultants advise claiming ARPA as lost revenue; committee votes to consolidate funds