[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",6467672,"mediaKeyId","5785555-0d341a818a70f8d1bf9100862e7cd0f9","parentId",5785555,"title","Votes at a glance: Finance committee preliminarily approves multiple department budgets","audioSeconds",825,"startMs",1662000,"endMs",2487000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785555-0d341a818a70f8d1bf9100862e7cd0f9&start=1662&end=2487","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785555-0d341a818a70f8d1bf9100862e7cd0f9/thumbnail_1662000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6467672/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Votes-at-a-glance-Finance-committee-preliminarily-approves-multiple-department-budgets","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467672-a8e9f3ae8f47704e7d39821f49f806f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775965460&Signature=Wk2DmlDK62C7CMwyvi7audtGi3C9DOslcFwJ4SZMz51l5zq81XJH~YXURLJ1gg0UoB5eE8nUeIqpIXRQLAR0LLP-luzxVgBqialvJBG1sGhMMxOnJPMYOnXsdEgeDUf2hIivGqIbRzWUnbjpnnAxl3fTb9-Gjuc8NCJAThaKEj6VbHyNe-Eodh9pMLIX9~QLTKJD43ro5hsu2NTxDxqhT3vQqyGv-vqBnh3DaXHKHppeNWPzRxE0FptgZbeUR9ZEWFd~jAytmxo9fvj3492DV2bKBBRfzCjRwN-KKuaRijcY83Zkjez~UmRGtk4~UOqoNS6Nafm9ApmGWd9agxpPNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ashland County, WI ","date","2025-09-12T18:41:23Z","article","The Ashland County Finance and Economic Development Committee completed a series of routine approvals and preliminary budget votes during the meeting.

Key votes and outcomes

- Approval of meeting agenda: Motion by Brad Ray, second by Ron Stendorf. Outcome: approved (4-0). The committee called the meeting to order and adopted the agenda without objection.

- Approval of finance and economic development committee minutes (Aug. 21): Motion by Brad Ray; second not specified in transcript. Outcome: approved (4-0).

- Highway budget (preliminary approval): Motion by Blake Ellifson, second by Ron Stendorf. Outcome: approved (unanimous among members present). The committee discussed midyear capital purchases and confirmed staff could buy equipment later in the year if additional revenues arrive, with the caveat that such purchases would affect next-year replacement requests.

- Health and Human Services budget (preliminary approval): Motion by Brad Ray; second not specified in transcript. Outcome: approved (unanimous among members present). The committee discussed potential uses for opioid settlement funds and asked staff to return with capital estimates for the HHS roof.

- Land conservation budget (preliminary approval): Motion by Ron Stendorf, second by Blake Ellifson. Outcome: approved (unanimous among members present). Staff noted grant-driven variation in land-conservation revenues and projects.

- Sheriff department budget (preliminary approval): Motion by Ron Stendorf, second by Blake Ellifson. Outcome: approved (unanimous among members present). The sheriff's office reported staffing and overtime cost pressures and flagged a possible $50,000 capital contribution to a new animal-control facility shared with neighboring jurisdictions.

All motions were carried without recorded opposition. Where the transcript did not clearly identify a second, the article lists the mover and marks the second as not specified rather than attribute to the wrong person.

The committee emphasized that these approvals were preliminary; final county-wide budget and levy decisions will be made later in the budget process and are subject to change.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 11, 2025 - Finance & Economic Development Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At the session the committee approved the meeting agenda, accepted minutes, and gave preliminary approval to the highway, health and human services, land conservation and sheriff budgets; votes were unanimous among members present.","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},6467677,"HHS update: opioid settlement funds eyed for recovery housing; roof repair estimates still pending",641,851000,1492000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785555-0d341a818a70f8d1bf9100862e7cd0f9&start=851&end=1492","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785555-0d341a818a70f8d1bf9100862e7cd0f9/thumbnail_851000.jpg","/articles/6467677/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/HHS-update-opioid-settlement-funds-eyed-for-recovery-housing-roof-repair-estimates-still-pending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467677-d9f6f8a919b1750e2f059b5b8543232c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775965460&Signature=OXwnFUWgWw5uCe~T4Oy~3Ek3Avw2JeRa23QT9apOgrLWVCTY5DUSzAaD-NfGjw6t7Ucibq9MnVZlngTfHyduYRa1Dm7wXhEdZ9EsckPTwna~ydapGZx1HjFreyPWI2TD5zIJhX33HDkdpM6CEDR4Qztf5VFmcCoWTfHST9lI-c0aewPuH92-jlqxylIBPaVuQhT-6AWTbWvq~hqptLRrd59OQl9hK8N1h1cWdgI8Qwn50YzTn~glFU~RoO~p8-lNVRBM3lnSRI7GcLPmwYZA1KGXt8RG1u7hK1P44vGEULZ2V1y8Z~Tecuv-R0AavcXU9A2dsyuIX-ObD0R7B75hbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The finance committee reviewed Health and Human Services (HHS) budget materials and heard updates on potential uses for Ashland County's opioid settlement funds and the status of the HHS building roof.

Terry, HHS staff, told the committee the county's overdose fatality review team has identified medication-assisted treatment in the jail and a shortage of recovery housing as key needs. \"We review overdoses in our community. We identify things that may have been causal, things that we could have prevented,\" Terry said, describing the review team's role. He said jail medication-assisted treatment was covered by a grant, but recovery housing remains an unmet need and was identified as an appropriate use for opioid-settlement funds if other grants do not continue.

Terry also said the county has used opioid-settlement dollars to cover room-and-board costs that Medicaid does not pay when residents receive residential treatment; he said the county planned to request similar help from settlement funds if state supports lapse.

On the HHS roof, staff reported they sought estimates for repair versus full replacement. Dave, the county maintenance lead, told staff the asphalt-shingle section is failing and likely needs full replacement; the adjacent metal section is reportedly in good condition. Committee members emphasized that any steel-roof estimate should include a tear-off and proper underlayment rather than simply installing metal over existing shingles; a committee member warned that putting metal over asphalt typically shortens roof life.

Members voted to give preliminary approval to the HHS budget; the motion carried. Staff said they would return with capital request figures for the roof in the next budget round and seek competitive bids for repair versus replacement.","Health and Human Services staff described uses under consideration for opioid settlement funds, including recovery housing and room-and-board gaps for Medicaid-paid residential treatment; staff also reported the HHS building likely needs full roof replacement and will return with cost 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},6467682,"Committee gives highway department conditional flexibility to purchase equipment as funds arrive",313,514000,827000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785555-0d341a818a70f8d1bf9100862e7cd0f9&start=514&end=827","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785555-0d341a818a70f8d1bf9100862e7cd0f9/thumbnail_514000.jpg","/articles/6467682/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Committee-gives-highway-department-conditional-flexibility-to-purchase-equipment-as-funds-arrive","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467682-9ad9122a56444cd300cc315997a92636/orig.mp4?Expires=1775965460&Signature=Gt5MA1Dx4AL-4QXdmP8Kowk2JEb763GNThAi9fGi-zfJFLSnWhDPt7WxHWhZF4XWfpGH2pX35Ma~3aExIfB~08qCo5UmZT8gWgVFB2lXnaOQeq-fXV2j5kJnwKAaFxu32mqp8bn5WmK5kN47InMng3D6rq3ziGyUbR4oZtUH3kIG-reRhQfoNvhnRRFmctQZNWSkl64p8olVkAPdSGEI1VhabsEPSCgC1aqHj8g7N4jL6QBvE05ry3azkDbl39R1eENm2tCqdfaxrIIAnhgKt12GmRbDhCluL221u~X9jNbAO-suFQIfeykTeQr1lzgWiSxR3Uk7MGKynGbdvABlKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members preliminarily approved the highway department budget after discussing how to handle capital equipment purchases if costs exceed the current year's allocation.

Mercy, the highway budget presenter, explained that the committee had discussed a cap on capital equipment funding at a prior meeting and sought clarity on whether the highway superintendent could buy items later in the fiscal year if additional revenues arrived. Mercy said staff had been conservative in cost estimates because prices are volatile.

Committee members confirmed the practical approach adopted at the previous meeting: the highway superintendent may purchase equipment midyear if additional state or other revenues arrive and the department has the funds to cover the purchase. Staff emphasized that such midyear purchases would affect the department's next-year replacement requests. One committee member summarized the trade-offs: buying equipment now could reduce the department's next-year replacement allocation, and rising costs might prompt delaying a purchase.

Blake Ellifson moved to approve the highway budget on a preliminary basis; Ron Stendorf seconded. The motion carried with all present members voting in favor.

Committee members asked staff to remain conservative in year-end estimates and to notify the finance committee if large midyear equipment purchases are proposed so members can review implications for the following budget cycle.","The finance committee approved the highway budget preliminarily and discussed giving the highway superintendent authority to purchase capital equipment during the year if additional state or other revenues arrive, while noting impacts on next-year's replacement requests.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6467687,"Finance committee outlines limited paths to replenish Ashland County's unassigned fund balance",0,849000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785555-0d341a818a70f8d1bf9100862e7cd0f9&start=849&end=849","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785555-0d341a818a70f8d1bf9100862e7cd0f9/thumbnail_849000.jpg","/articles/6467687/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Finance-committee-outlines-limited-paths-to-replenish-Ashland-Countys-unassigned-fund-balance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467687-31022e63ff26831cd1d395df2f372a4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775965460&Signature=cLN5fBa1mf4ORwIMxqv3chR9soFAwMUr5m2-KFUwQwAiBrhwAY5~JIiwOmooxi~D2e3lryumG~nLJHH3zCTUogOgz8z-dAZVbBf8jLi2NiTPEOO0~Osde-tlXLql3JL7nZkVmkWqsrmdPPv7zZxJb2GXfBWFMajp2lcga2UnXi0eh85~uFBrxOleUWgwlOwlGky7LBS26EibFukk8A-P~nM4pDz7Mk9SPivWAzKYVvuUm4g-7tD2keRqkUU5jcmWSDC-vgyctng8EPmF4VdL9oXAdD2ijxrAIpF1V-VdDmJm3MouMMiYaPVMqivevFetygBSQQdN6RDdAEmsrsCgDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pat Kenny, finance committee chair, opened a wide-ranging discussion on how Ashland County could replenish its unassigned fund balance if the board draws on it for one-time needs.

\"To me, at least, that's important because it helps us to understand that if we use unassigned fund balance for something, we should also understand the challenges of replenishing that,\" Kenny said as he introduced the topic.

County Administrator Mark said there are only two realistic sources for growing unassigned fund balance: budget surpluses at year end and one-time revenues. \"There are only 2 sources of funds for the unassigned balance. That would be any budget surplus from the previous year, which would include any money we had left in contingency or, one-time dollars,\" Mark said. He and other staff cited examples such as federal one-time grants and forthcoming carbon-credit proceeds as eligible sources that could end up in unassigned balance.

Mark clarified restrictions that limit other revenue streams. Money placed on the debt levy can only be used for debt-levy-eligible capital expenses, he said, and therefore cannot be redirected into unassigned funds for general purposes. \"Money put on the debt levy can only be used for debt levy eligible expenses,\" Mark said, citing an example in which surplus debt-levy money helped pay toward an HVAC down payment for the sheriff's department.

Committee members discussed how supporting community programs from the general levy draws from the same pool that would otherwise replenish unassigned balance. Mark and other staff explained that some programs the county subsidizes are required by state or federal statute and therefore are not optional without policy or service changes. The committee also flagged efficiency reviews: members asked whether the Health and Human Services (HHS) department could run Meals on Wheels or other programs more cheaply in-house, rather than contracting them out.

Officials agreed to finish a fund-balance policy in January after budget season so the committee would have clearer guidance on target balances and how to replenish them if used. Kenny and others emphasized that the policy should reflect limits on what the county can change without cutting statutorily required services.

The committee did not take formal action on policy or transfers during this meeting; members confined the item to discussion and scheduling further analysis.

Pat Kenny noted that staff would bring a follow-up for the January meeting to allow the committee to conclude the fund-balance policy once revenue projections from the budget season are available.","Committee members heard that one-time revenues and year-end surpluses are the primary sources to replenish the county's unassigned fund balance; debt-levy and recurring revenues are restricted by statute or existing obligations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Finance committee preliminarily approves multiple department budgets

HHS update: opioid settlement funds eyed for recovery housing; roof repair estimates still pending

Committee gives highway department conditional flexibility to purchase equipment as funds arrive

Finance committee outlines limited paths to replenish Ashland County's unassigned fund balance