[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6746974,"mediaKeyId","5664959-bf7e9ae9fea166ea47cb5cbb0ad46815","parentId",5664959,"title","Ashland County committee weighs how to replenish unassigned fund balance as levy limits pinch options","audioSeconds",634,"startMs",856000,"endMs",1490000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5664959-bf7e9ae9fea166ea47cb5cbb0ad46815&start=856&end=1490","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5664959-bf7e9ae9fea166ea47cb5cbb0ad46815/thumbnail_856000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6746974/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Ashland-County-committee-weighs-how-to-replenish-unassigned-fund-balance-as-levy-limits-pinch-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6746974-5ad5e4aff5910a37243d3060457bc5c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187907&Signature=I-IP0eQJrwan8eMzR~fRKYEFiefeBZtwv9i322XNndmGM2Yspy74XX8eOKNtz0u-oSLG6ATUBzJy5PZbVSxHm4dbbM4fjPLExPc9SSPNHO5hkS-xM3I7hD3W1VmqoXYDaNz2SOCK7-bDPVTxo9kB5JpwY47RLGhEoatTQpDkdZvSfwWMHg3hae3DwLlWJ39BSBfOWeuCgQiPnZUXmFWqJLo49gQB~pjvMUF~IecyMKgyCnFCSNinlPVxr4Ki-YKLsfKOvMWpVPRaui6G4l7xltHr4yWzfb4JDFx1mPn8s9dp4gvoatR8mH6Zuj-E95XEzIagowvnrSRNhlJuuPrdoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ashland County, WI ","date","2025-08-22T16:40:20.45Z","article","Chairman Pat Kenny convened a detailed discussion about the county's unassigned fund balance and how to replenish it, saying the issue will shape budgeting choices in coming years. The committee reviewed staff analysis that the county currently exceeds common reserve benchmarks but faces structural limits on revenue because the general levy can rise only by net new construction (about 1.15% this year). Mike, the financial consultant, told the committee the county's large prior-year general fund receipt was a one-time item and that human-services reimbursement lags and timing differences in state aid mean revenues will not track simply with months elapsed.

Members debated practical options for rebuilding unassigned reserves. Administrator Dan explained debt levy is earmarked for debt service and cannot be transferred directly into unassigned fund balance; only general-levy surpluses flow to the unassigned balance. Several members said using fund balance to cover near-term capital (for example, the sheriff's HVAC) would be easier now but harder to rebuild later. Pat Kenny noted the county used a one-time receipt related to disputed tax collections in a prior year to boost reserves and warned members not to spend that workhorse cash without a plan to replace it.

The committee did not adopt a formal fund-balance policy at the meeting. Instead members asked staff to continue drafting a policy that specifies target reserve ranges and identifies rules for replenishment and replacement of one-time receipts. Several members expressed a preference for minimizing the use of the debt levy going forward and for prioritizing budget surpluses as the only reliable replenishment source. The administrator and Mike were asked to provide clearer scenarios at an upcoming budget meeting showing the impact of placing the sheriff HVAC on debt levy versus using unassigned balance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance Committee Meeting - August 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Ashland County's finance committee debated how to protect and replenish its unassigned fund balance amid limited levy growth and rising operating costs, directing staff to draft a formal fund-balance policy rather than approving an immediate funding plan.","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},6746969,"Finance committee preliminarily approves highway equipment portion of 2026 CIP amid tariff uncertainty",611,1777000,2388000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5664959-bf7e9ae9fea166ea47cb5cbb0ad46815&start=1777&end=2388","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5664959-bf7e9ae9fea166ea47cb5cbb0ad46815/thumbnail_1777000.jpg","/articles/6746969/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Finance-committee-preliminarily-approves-highway-equipment-portion-of-2026-CIP-amid-tariff-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6746969-09df33ad89f917bf0a643dc210565faa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187907&Signature=DmFtJGPiyxdDF-KC9BnpudljgUaUnEPiUXhivTSdTMbf3cjVrrFeOnkqgnqk6w5Yenj~FMtvg~HWqqGq5sP2qnqWNqCug~ZN~JjMXaya4Aa8Xr7FnwEkLYXLJjBNQz3YwKsfJwkPYgVEfPoa5arXmvUiT~gB7yyd7L5O9wVoMYrN8YegdTYqaEQmkBWFMOIUGNLbKyqo9VTfvwqcpDg~jkPiMXTKsQ-bwGd93kqwgqBfp137dt3SsmLtaylUS1ytTVlasXbgvPGRoONKH~dDRh3UUcgyedcZAg0WFvSlXrZcaVHMJVFyOKes9JkWkgNos1XxA7SvDPSo3OpGkvrgOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members voted to preliminarily approve the equipment portion of the Ashland County 2026 highway capital-improvement plan but directed highway staff to monitor supplier pricing and prioritize purchases. Matt, the highway superintendent, explained that tariffs (including a 35% effective rate on some Canadian goods and varying rates on other sources) and global inflation make equipment pricing volatile. He said some costs (mechanics' labor capitalization, parts) are being absorbed differently when the county builds components in-house.

Pat Kenny and others asked that the department buy the highest-priority equipment first — the plow truck, the shop truck, then a trailer — and to return to the committee before exceeding the preliminary cap so the committee can consider debt-levy bridges or other tradeoffs. The administrator and highway staff explained that most highway equipment is paid from equipment rates and machine-cost reimbursements rather than general levy, and that overruns would affect the equipment fund and potentially require debt-levy action next year.

A motion to preliminarily approve the $5.90 million equipment plan (preliminary figure presented during the meeting) passed on a voice vote. Members said they wanted the approval to serve as a cap and expected the highway department to prioritize purchases in case price increases materialize.","The finance committee preliminarily approved the highway equipment portion of the 2026 capital-improvement plan but warned that tariffs and inflation could increase costs above the plan's estimates.",{"_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},6746960,"Committee to draft countywide vehicle lease-vs.-purchase policy; highway will be excluded",713,2402000,3115000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5664959-bf7e9ae9fea166ea47cb5cbb0ad46815&start=2402&end=3115","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5664959-bf7e9ae9fea166ea47cb5cbb0ad46815/thumbnail_2402000.jpg","/articles/6746960/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Committee-to-draft-countywide-vehicle-lease-vs-purchase-policy-highway-will-be-excluded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6746960-eff407b86dcbe37de7ff4490567ada03/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187907&Signature=iM2G8-ahRtM-8l1ZmIt9n9zLtL9d03PfqYrB4msl-CNLUBImQqiq~EsaQHi9mYLFlaLv3peX9zdbUE4VOku9u2ARs~oRUZKUW~J22PfCWJsOqw6TcJBYFo45zfkjn23IE8lT9~tGm0OlmRxT3nkTGMbHTJAwdCFdS4KB57Icb~JHbFEkEuOtKPhp4zdh4HFBKQxqL9e8i3hRKlfyfFq6rZO-MO9p1d6kBg7Dl2uFL1JHd1DsjWEVUOvES5aGY1DAMxa1SNzkuu9HeZkyZ7wS5Qudy3E56p95OCY4QLf87IuDYU2EXsW2b6ojSSetpe-blcH~euK44op-kYM-xsppaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members discussed when leasing or buying county vehicles makes fiscal sense and asked staff to prepare a countywide policy for review in January. Matt, the highway superintendent, explained highway equipment is billed by hourly equipment rates and machine-cost reimbursements; for highway operations, ownership typically yields a depreciation credit that supports future replacement, whereas leases limit the ability to recover full equipment-hour costs.

Committee members noted other departments (for example, the sheriff's fleet) may have different usage patterns and that a one-size-fits-all approach might not fit every department. The committee agreed to exclude highway equipment from the countywide lease/purchase policy because of the highway department's distinctive revenue model, and directed staff to gather department-level usage and lifecycle data to inform a written policy to be presented after the first quarter.","After reviewing highway department revenue and equipment-replacement practices, the committee agreed to draft a written policy on leasing versus purchasing county vehicles and to revisit the question in January, excluding highway equipment decisions from the countywide rule.",{"_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},6746965,"Finance committee preliminarily approves 2026 departmental budgets and several recurring community grants; larger housing requests tabled",929,3651000,4580000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5664959-bf7e9ae9fea166ea47cb5cbb0ad46815&start=3651&end=4580","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5664959-bf7e9ae9fea166ea47cb5cbb0ad46815/thumbnail_3651000.jpg","/articles/6746965/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Finance-committee-preliminarily-approves-2026-departmental-budgets-and-several-recurring-community-grants-larger-housing-requests-tabled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6746965-3cd0e766e26c514631b4e82849741d32/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187907&Signature=aFJhW-E9aALtGQf2IhgrmSh6Xfon1fBkf~WJzgDKtZolvkl7C~UvbUb4h3b3Z3Cc19hB1V2SOS0-ouipjWKrYzfqAaAhsZJlPrHY6gQPh8QRC0CLU~qpey2j9WZPNqYipN2q~R5G1D6ouq2mxj45iZX2odzJNH4UaZGmJdvQhA85VKQHFta8vUqSJwbfnuAwemIExA2MAX4TK70gl0DEYDSzhWKvF2H4kPQu1jb~Q92lLA87-MJxxqfOyxfSrbwqIs9o2y6~55b0g9yWga55Xy2v7paY2cEcccw716g6fakWDPaWi4HeoJQ-DLAXYuizl4vYqIfdU6Kdr2k45Vdr5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ashland County Finance Committee preliminarily approved the majority of department budgets for the 2026 cycle and approved several recurring community support grants in voice votes. Committee members also reviewed a set of outside funding requests and took mixed actions: modest recurring requests were approved while larger requests seeking multi-hundred-thousand-dollar subsidies were tabled pending additional information.

On motion and voice vote the committee preliminarily approved departmental budgets presented at the meeting. Members then approved operating funding for recurring partners: Tri-County Corridor ($6,000), the county fair ($20,000), the Chamber of Commerce ($35,000) and in-kind/contracted items including BART and Northwest Regional Planning's hazardous-waste levy request. These passed by voice vote with no roll-call tallies recorded in the minutes.

Two larger requests drew extended discussion. CheckBelt (a community land trust) requested substantial subsidy capacity to acquire and refurbish properties; a $200,000 figure was discussed in the meeting record but the committee tabled the request for a future finance meeting so staff and presenters can provide more detail. The Ashland Area Development Corporation (AADC) presented operations and revenue history; members discussed AADC's 990 filings and recent large grant cycles and voted to table the county contribution request to a later meeting to allow follow-up on outcomes and staffing. Committee members said they wanted clearer evidence of local impact and how county funds would be deployed before committing.","Members gave preliminary approval to the county departmental budgets and approved routine outside funding requests for local organizations while tabling two larger housing/economic-development asks (CheckBelt/community land trust and Ashland Area Development Corporation) for further information.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ashland County committee weighs how to replenish unassigned fund balance as levy limits pinch options

Finance committee preliminarily approves highway equipment portion of 2026 CIP amid tariff uncertainty

Committee to draft countywide vehicle lease-vs.-purchase policy; highway will be excluded

Finance committee preliminarily approves 2026 departmental budgets and several recurring community grants; larger housing requests tabled