[{"_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",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6509513,"mediaKeyId","5423054-5f2ed823a303d4dee59d8e71403e6e6c","parentId",5423054,"title","Committee reviews health insurance changes: surcharge reduced to 15% and premiums rising 11%","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",6000000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5423054-5f2ed823a303d4dee59d8e71403e6e6c&start=6000&end=6000","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5423054-5f2ed823a303d4dee59d8e71403e6e6c/thumbnail_6000000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6509513/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Committee-reviews-health-insurance-changes-surcharge-reduced-to-15-and-premiums-rising-11","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6509513-0cab7483bb1c921a86f841d177e2f239/orig.mp4?Expires=1774958771&Signature=b1nCqgCDls6BnRI4U-Q6CF8YVFc1wWiJb1sdZbYHvbyptq~W3E4EF1kBj~eFApl066K3D0ypiarfG4ouSEHHWFTTpvIagHS4KxgyrK89NBH9TMkvxXbexio5bNaZA6Nw8gi-XSYauKJIAcI-XaLwQYpdxMp-lQsGYqVwsuVhCNDdDMh2fkXZq7JZgYSUnXVheWfTUSIK4W5VAQK2Ci99gDXforSdq1oBeDZzUjRLSqbZCV-RCj2SuG7VIrdIdwNEaFqMajL~Sps~aIQ0Bbq~68R1j9EOF3Z51UTrPgcbrhk6Z0JUpZApAFlxcCjnHKcPdrsXioo6ky9pJmts-IedhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ashland County, WI ","date","2025-07-18T11:47:26.737Z","article","The Finance and Economic Development Committee reviewed an update on county health insurance and employee premiums. Committee members were told the employer surcharge will step down from 30% toward 0% over time and is 15% in the near term; simultaneously, overall premiums for the pooled plan are expected to increase by about 11% next year.

County officials described the change as a near wash for the county in the immediate year because the surcharge reduction and the premium increase offset each other in the county\u0000s calculations. Committee members were told to expect additional upward pressure on health insurance costs tied to state and federal changes: consultants cautioned that Medicaid cuts scheduled to take effect in 2027 could increase private insurance rates and place additional cost pressure on employers and local governments.

Committee members and staff discussed how moving from a self-insured arrangement into the state pool led to up-front premium increases for some members statewide but could be more stable long term. \"I would still argue with anybody who has this insurance that there isn't better insurance out there. This is a great plan,\" a committee member said in defense of the move to the pooled plan.

No policy action or vote was taken; the item was informational. Committee staff will carry updated premium and surcharge figures into the 2026 budget materials.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ashland County Finance 7/17/25","oneSentenceSummary","Committee reviewed changes in the county's health insurance plan: an employer surcharge will decline while overall premiums for the pool are expected to rise, with consultants warning potential future cost pressure from Medicaid changes.","taxTitle","Ashland County, Wisconsin","taxId",72843,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6509518,"Committee approves several 2026 capital items: IT, sheriff equipment and vehicles; highway roads approved but some equipment deferred",431,4588000,5019000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5423054-5f2ed823a303d4dee59d8e71403e6e6c&start=4588&end=5019","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5423054-5f2ed823a303d4dee59d8e71403e6e6c/thumbnail_4588000.jpg","/articles/6509518/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Committee-approves-several-2026-capital-items-IT-sheriff-equipment-and-vehicles-highway-roads-approved-but-some-equipment-deferred","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6509518-e698a1a040404eac61304f640f3981bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1774958771&Signature=jAcl9t3I~xE7ZCJibau5jMeeMjVdk3IOM8w3UEDN1bNajaX0Dei7kNsfSQjVodFedKxLTN2bUG~hpwJIhwctiyBW7Ujzy30F4vTqddgIgXnJko6mIPiECT4uHvUTCsHmWDZl~p8Tf9Eq726EWTXpRwQSylMRGDHzy2vNYEXvI1w08qLAmSyxXrJrN7SmS7Mvdzng4eMqGPMq8HU2jAT6UQpVBfvSC7b456OcbjWDXtjVas6etANVEvX8wkqAheL9Sx5LSdEvYe8JTdR6CVMxzy6YEGDwNhXeGo3fU2q3OeAFjxbnHoTmWVA7dWpB-WWzL1BGMZNrqfJfIhdAusZT0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ashland County Finance and Economic Development Committee approved several proposed 2026 capital budgets and deferred selected equipment requests for further review.

The committee approved the countywide IT replacement request for 2026, which includes scheduled equipment refresh on a five-year cycle, and approved a parallel request for sheriff's department IT that replaces end-of-life hardware needed for emergency response.

The committee approved the sheriff's vehicle and equipment budget for 2026, which includes lease payments and new vehicle leases. Members discussed transitioning to leasing for fleet vehicles to better manage high-mileage patrol units and noted the department is moving toward leasing some vehicles while retaining serviceable owned units.

For highway projects, the committee approved the proposed roads program for 2026, including a large federal grant-supported project (a multiyear federal grant was shown on the highway schedule). Committee members noted that federal/state aid funding covers a substantial portion of some projects; in particular, a federal grant will fund a large project and reduce the county levy impact for that item. The committee also discussed highway equipment (plow trucks and other rolling stock). Members asked for additional information on leasing versus purchasing for highway vehicles and postponed approval of highway equipment purchases pending that review. The committee approved the roads portion but held equipment approvals to allow the highway committee and staff to return with a leasing analysis.

Motions to approve the IT replacement, sheriff IT, sheriff vehicles and the highway roads program passed by voice votes; no roll-call tallies were recorded in committee minutes for these approvals. Staff said they would return with leasing analysis and any contract/lease policy language that might affect replacement timing, spare-vehicle rotation and total cost of ownership.","The Finance and Economic Development Committee approved 2026 capital requests for county IT, sheriff IT and vehicles, and a highway roads program (including federal grant-funded projects); committee deferred some highway vehicle equipment purchases for further review of lease vs. buy.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6509523,"County auditors report improved unassigned fund balance; committee debates 20'5% target and range for policy",181,695000,876000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5423054-5f2ed823a303d4dee59d8e71403e6e6c&start=695&end=876","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5423054-5f2ed823a303d4dee59d8e71403e6e6c/thumbnail_695000.jpg","/articles/6509523/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/County-auditors-report-improved-unassigned-fund-balance-committee-debates-205-target-and-range-for-policy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6509523-013d7e81316825c58195f1f03fb12e6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1774958771&Signature=S0QePV-HJHdUB2xrxSDU7DlU-Yv4~3O1xWhG7R0CunNw9SW0pTYU5zCl0mMGF~tDVRmpzczT7P-kBswjkxQtOAtnZFGJ5yaviOoRU6qfq5DT0EOxyanLCrD~1hiXu9XNYYuTzWL0Y7y4JYp1Wcvi6e45P14fHLP~721nDesTLvY85oGpNy8AhGJIBDfsbkr-o~IUZ0D0eqgjKn8O2ZcfkjFzH8aIdC6jkwg7Tx3FlKf1egcRUl6PEAGL0XUa4PiHNK4vkZhQx~BMbKlLt9j6vUbtgW3lsh7fGCWeAyOHxixqu~Os8HrgfDTOjyP6W6HDB-EJsghogThHZK9eMPZ7aQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Finance and Economic Development Committee reviewed the county's 2024 audit and discussed a draft fund-balance policy after financial consultants said Ashland County's unassigned fund balance had improved.

\"I think you're in the right track,\" Steve, a financial consultant, told the committee after showing audit figures. The audit presented a $6 million total fund balance and identified an unassigned portion that consultants calculated at roughly 19.2% of general fund expenditures, a level the consultants described as above typical minimum guidance but below some proposed targets.

Committee members discussed model policies from other counties. Dunn County's example uses a higher band (35 to 50 percent), while Waupaca County's 25 percent figure proved more readable to supervisors. Committee debate focused on whether Ashland County should adopt a range to allow flexibility; suggestions included a 20-to-30 percent range with 25 percent as the target and a +/- tolerance around the target so administrators have guardrails but not inflexible constraints. \"If you set it at 20 right now and you're at 19.22, S and P or Moody's are gonna be like, well, okay. What's your plan to gain compliance?\" a financial consultant said, arguing for a range and a stated plan.

Committee members also discussed how some funds the county holds (LATCF, certain capital funds and contingency) are in separate funds and may not count toward the general fund\u0000s unassigned total even though they provide liquidity. Steve reported that LATCF funds currently have no spending deadline and are \"retained until spent\" though reporting is required; later he clarified LATCF does not have the same expiration timeline as ARPA.

Committee members agreed to continue refining the policy text for clarity (use of the term \"general fund operating expenditures\" rather than \"operating revenues,\" clarify monitoring and signatures if finance director position is vacant) and to return a revised document to finance committee before county board consideration in September. Several members suggested specifying authority thresholds for using fund balance (dollar limits for finance committee v. county board). No final policy was adopted at the meeting; staff were asked to prepare revisions and bring the proposal back.

The discussion included questions about near-term capital needs (HVAC, HHS roof, jail project) and the trade-offs between holding reserves and using cash versus short-term borrowing. Financial consultants and staff agreed to provide more definitive guidance on permitted uses of LATCF funds and the effect of different policy ranges on tax levy planning.","Financial consultants presented the 2024 audit showing higher unassigned fund balance and recommended a fund balance policy range. Committee members debated a 20'0% range with 25% as a target and asked staff to return a revised policy to the committee.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6509529,"Committee approves using LATCF funds to pay jail HVAC work; borrowing option left open",2379,1966000,4345000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5423054-5f2ed823a303d4dee59d8e71403e6e6c&start=1966&end=4345","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5423054-5f2ed823a303d4dee59d8e71403e6e6c/thumbnail_1966000.jpg","/articles/6509529/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Committee-approves-using-LATCF-funds-to-pay-jail-HVAC-work-borrowing-option-left-open","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6509529-e1ab88ef834a19c2f2201a9348b11f5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1774958771&Signature=bggWIkE50DoN4C~-kQynm4ZUUZ8Mb7n5BI6WhYJQvxONwHLHaesMvHG7M7hxQB3fqUr447vC03W0qBJ9EAZPolaQxWPwyUA0qsnlTYx1fGS3I~elf5SC-JhBWXYxA0Smo3maJ0iNgokZL3j12JuHvWbQxKi6NdqBLV4vEO00RbZA5YDCzkcANwiVjQW8TjeNWId3c8WDdsQX~yb4cw9MM-19qh5JZfQ2FuKym~HNzz67mpkSWpTRc0LgF4mWmplkAdFwARJGP~m1Vz6qjpJgR9JHVeIATMq0wrQ5Qd5kGWGdflWiNzAhxEsC4LR3u3ID15~DjdLMnr~JAR9rQsR9ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ashland County\u0000s Finance and Economic Development Committee voted to fund replacement of the sheriff department's jail HVAC system using LATCF funds and other available balances, while leaving the option to borrow or use bonding later.

Committee members said the HVAC vendor's proposal allows invoicing as equipment arrives and in some cases can delay invoicing beyond net-30 if the county needs more time. \"When they order the equipment, they usually invoice once the equipment arrives on job site,\" Dave Dawson said on the line. He also said the contractor indicated they could push invoices out if needed.

Members discussed payment options and liquidity. Committee members noted $68,000 in excess bonding cash (an overestimate of insurance in prior bonding) is immediately available; capital contingency and LATCF balances were discussed as additional possible sources. Steve and Mike, the committee's financial consultants, noted that LATCF funds currently earn interest and that short-term borrowing would cost a small spread over that rate, making a cash-preserve approach reasonable if the county prefers to keep liquid reserves.

Faced with near-term invoicing (equipment charges expected to represent a large portion of the early invoice), the committee made a motion to authorize use of LATCF funding to pay for the jail HVAC installation and to permit borrowing later if required. Blake Ellefsen moved the motion; it was seconded and passed on a voice vote. Committee members instructed staff to document the funding decision to present to the county board and to reserve the option of replacing LATCF funding with bond or note proceeds later in the budget process if that is fiscally preferable.","The finance committee approved using Local Aid to Tribal County Funding (LATCF) money to pay for the sheriff\u0000s office HVAC replacement at the jail, with an option to borrow later if needed.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6509534,"Finance committee approves payment of $34,500 in past airport invoices; will pay audited 2024 amount when available",226,92000,318000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5423054-5f2ed823a303d4dee59d8e71403e6e6c&start=92&end=318","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5423054-5f2ed823a303d4dee59d8e71403e6e6c/thumbnail_92000.jpg","/articles/6509534/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Finance-committee-approves-payment-of-34500-in-past-airport-invoices-will-pay-audited-2024-amount-when-available","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6509534-aa5134b471a4dff10658e0014cbadb62/orig.mp4?Expires=1774958771&Signature=Ox5mbFA0ufY2nE7JNdL82azDOxTuuqc0xd7yLNw2kt-cNeiPHzV0P5JzLV-ZK9jLS8mynuLqP7V3Af2wlA~lmFedrYKgZ1vSBxy2BWocJ1SIaq49SJPgKXonj-420LjakJhGo6QtdhjpfMMI6HOF9rVkQMDI6Px7eTfdyrfqOnUvE-uO7WS0Ucr~NO5tzzUfe099GOcAu4aPiPAKC30Wq0yR5VwTrswZVGuXpqgw~UNVmQCY3GQ5EmNCTqLXvCTXxOSBV5UDfZMJs2O~Sejqessl9N4ra~iK1LjCjkzY3lQHL98eC8JR0rCMMqwWLwwISsfiRTVW7IS2gsQX-ev6Qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ashland County Finance and Economic Development Committee voted to approve payment of $34,500 in outstanding airport invoices dating back to 2020 and agreed to pay the audited amount for 2024 when that audit is completed.

The committee discussed why the invoices went unpaid. Committee members said the city had sent dollar amounts without line-item detail and county clerks repeatedly asked for clarification. \"They never told us what in what they were. They were just dollar amounts,\" the airport director (unnamed) said during the meeting. Clerk staff member Julie Valancourt reviewed records and identified the $34,500 balance that the committee approved to pay.

Committee members emphasized the need to fix billing and invoicing procedures going forward. \"They tell us what the bill is for,\" one committee member said, describing an expectation that Derek (county staff) would ensure the city provides clearer billing so future amounts can be paid on receipt.

The committee recorded that the 2024 figure is not yet final because that year\u0000s audit has not been completed; members agreed to pay the finalized audited amount when it becomes available. A motion to approve payment of the outstanding amount and to pay the audited 2024 amount when ready passed on an aye vote.

The decision follows the committee's review of the airport's multi-year operating deficits and a discovery, via the clerk's office review, that some previous years' charges lacked explanatory detail. Committee members noted the county has historically appropriated amounts based on city requests, and that a prior informal arrangement to cover gaps may have contributed to the lapse in itemized billing.

The committee did not take additional formal action in the meeting to change the invoicing process; members said staff (Derek and the clerk) will follow up with the city to standardize billing so future invoices include clear descriptions.","Ashland County's Finance and Economic Development Committee approved payment of $34,500 in previously unitemized airport invoices dating back to 2020 and directed payment of the audited 2024 amount when that figure is finalized.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee reviews health insurance changes: surcharge reduced to 15% and premiums rising 11%

Committee approves several 2026 capital items: IT, sheriff equipment and vehicles; highway roads approved but some equipment deferred

County auditors report improved unassigned fund balance; committee debates 20'5% target and range for policy

Committee approves using LATCF funds to pay jail HVAC work; borrowing option left open

Finance committee approves payment of $34,500 in past airport invoices; will pay audited 2024 amount when available