County administrator outlines 2026 budget highlights, department adjustments and capital priorities

County administration presented highlights of the proposed 2026 annual budget to the Economic Development Committee on Oct. 2, 2025, including departmental levy changes, nonprofit contract maintenance and options for addressing large capital projects.

Lance (county staff) and the county administrator outlined that the budget implements an updated compensation plan and that departments were asked to accept “shared sacrifice” to avoid drawing on general-fund reserves. The administrator said professional-service contracts for local nonprofits (for example, United Way, Marathon County Historical Society, North Central Community Action Program and judicial aid programs) were maintained at current levels.

The nut graf: departments reduced or deferred some staff positions (the administrator said about the equivalent of 15 unfunded positions countywide) and those changes, combined with fee adjustments and aligning revenue streams, helped close budget gaps without further reducing general-fund reserves. The administrator encouraged supervisors to review the full budget book and noted amendment and public-hearing timelines.

Highlights related to committee jurisdictions included a $40,000 levy reduction for UW Extension achieved by reducing one administrative contract position and reallocating tasks internally; library funding was adjusted but maintained with use of library reserves, and the county’s capital needs—highway shop, IT security and infrastructure—remain significant. The administrator discussed a financing strategy that might shift existing general-obligation debt to reduce the need for new borrowing on a hypothetical $50 million highway/shop project, noting the potential interest-cost savings if the county uses existing debt capacity carefully.

Timeline and process: administration said the budget is now the county board’s draft; publication for public review is required on Oct. 13, public hearing scheduled for Nov. 3, and HR Finance deadlines for amendments fall in early November. Supervisors were encouraged to submit amendments by Nov. 7 for committee consideration ahead of board action in November.

Ending: the administrator urged supervisors to review the proposal and noted that committee-level amendments are still possible; no new appropriations were approved at the meeting beyond previously discussed referrals.