The Onalaska Finance and Personnel Committee on April 2 took a series of routine but consequential actions: it approved the OmniCenter and general fund financial reports for 2025, adopted a budget amendment to fund purchase and remodeling of a storage unit at 251 Mason Street, accepted notice of a state EMS Funding Assistance Program award, approved multiple personnel policy updates effective Jan. 1, 2026, and reclassified the event coordinator position retroactive to the first pay period of 2025.

Financial reports: Sabrina, the city’s finance staff member, walked the committee through the OmniCenter and general fund balance sheets and budget reports. The OmniCenter report showed total revenues remaining to hit budget at roughly 84.93% as of Feb. 20, 2025, and total expenses remaining at about 83.87%, figures staff said are close to 2024 levels and likely to improve after a major March event. For the general fund staff noted 95.29% of budgeted revenues remained as of Feb. 2025 and total budgeted expenditures were about 85.03% remaining, which staff said aligned closely with the prior year.

Resolution for property purchase: The committee approved Resolution 10-2025, which amends the 2025 general fund budget to allocate $75,000 from the equipment replacement fund to purchase and remodel a storage unit at 251 Mason Street (unit 14). Committee materials said the council previously approved purchasing the property and that this resolution moves the purchase into the formal budget.

EMS grant: The committee heard that Onalaska was awarded $81,482.82 through Wisconsin’s EMS Funding Assistance Program (FAP). Staff said the 2025 state expansion increased total available FAP funding statewide and broadened eligibility to non-transporting agencies; the Onalaska award must be spent on medical items that enhance services rather than replace budgeted supplies. Staff described plans to use grant funds for a third cardiac monitor and a third Lucas CPR device to better equip crews for concurrent calls.

Personnel policies and HR items: The committee approved multiple personnel policy updates recommended by a benefit work group. Policies approved include vacation (7.05), sick leave (7.06), holidays and personal time (7.07), bereavement and funeral leave (7.08) and the emergency action, evacuation and safety plan (8.04). Committee members discussed implementation timing; staff said changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2026 to allow time to implement system changes. HR staff reported the police department recently hired officer Tyler Berg in February and that recruitment activities continue.

Reclassification: The committee approved a Baker Tilly reclassification of the event coordinator position to Grade 6, and authorized a retroactive pay change to the first full pay period in January 2025. Staff said the expense will be covered within the affected department’s current budget.

Votes at a glance: motion by Mike Bilkey, second by Dan unless otherwise noted.

- Approve minutes from previous meeting — approved.
- Approve 2025 OmniCenter financials — approved.
- Approve 2025 general fund financials — approved.
- Approve police department staffing and facility study appropriations request — approved (see separate article).
- Approve Resolution 10-2025 to amend 2025 general fund budget: allocate $75,000 from equipment replacement fund for purchase/remodel of 251 Mason St., Unit 14 — approved.
- Accept EMS Funding Assistance Program award ($81,482.82) — informational; no committee vote required.
- Approve personnel policies 7.05, 7.06, 7.07, 7.08 and 8.04 — each approved individually; all to take effect Jan. 1, 2026 unless otherwise noted.
- Reclassify event coordinator to Grade 6 and update job description (retroactive to first full pay period of 2025) — approved.

The committee adjourned at 7:38 p.m.