Administrator outlines 2026 budget priorities: wage updates, staffing trims and caution on reserves

County Administrator Lance Leonard on Oct. 8 presented the Health and Human Services Committee with highlights of Marathon County’s proposed 2026 budget, emphasizing implementation of a countywide compensation update, targeted staffing changes, and a conservative approach to using reserves or issuing new bonds for capital projects.

"The number one budget priority that was identified by the board was implementing the compensation update," Leonard said. He told the committee administration and department heads aligned priorities and assumptions set earlier by the County Board while making the budget and noted the document is available on the county website.

Why it matters: Leonard said the budget is balanced but tight, with many departments presenting flat or reduced budgets despite inflation and rising labor costs. He urged the board not to use general fund reserves to buy down the tax rate going forward and recommended that any additional funds be applied to deferred capital projects rather than recurring operating costs.

Major points and department-level highlights

- Compensation and staffing: The budget implements the wage study across…