Barron County adopts 2025 budget, restores library funding and small cultural grants, and allocates Sterling loan

Barron County’s Board of Supervisors on Nov. 4 adopted the 2025 budget and financing resolution after a public hearing and several roll‑call and voice votes that adjusted the executive committee’s recommendations.

Why it matters: The budget action ties together short‑term borrowing, use of fund balance and sales tax, and recurring appropriations that affect local libraries, cultural organizations and projected county debt service and tax levies.

What the board approved: County Administrator Jeff French presented the financing resolution and the published 2025 budget documents, including a proposed total budget of $81,156,717 and a net tax levy figure discussed in the presentation. French and finance staff said the board planned to use short‑term borrowing from Sterling Bank and accumulated sales tax balances to smooth fund balance and capital needs; the board approved a short‑term $2,500,000 borrowing from Sterling Bank earlier in the budget process and earmarked portions for capital use.

Key budget items and votes - Library reimbursement: The board restored county reimbursement for Act 150 library service to 78% for 2025 (motion by Supervisor Gustlick; second Supervisor Hansen). The motion passed, 26 yes, 3 absent. County staff explained the statutory Act 150 process reimburses libraries for the cost of serving nonresident county patrons; library directors and trustees spoke at the public hearing urging restoration. - Museum appropriation: The board reinstated a $10,000 appropriation to the Pioneer Village and Museum (motion by Supervisor Rogers; second Supervisor Hanson). The motion passed, 25 yes, 1 no, 3 absent (Supervisor Vaughn voted no). - County fair appropriation: The board reinstated a $10,000 appropriation for the Barron County Fairgrounds (motion by Supervisor Nelson; second Supervisor Banks). The motion passed, 25 yes, 1 no, 3 absent (Supervisor Vaughn voted no). - Sterling Bank borrowing allocation for Ag Building windows: The property committee recommended and the board approved allocating $250,000 of the previously authorized $2,500,000 short‑term Sterling Bank borrowing for new windows and window panels at the Agriculture Building, including a $25,000 contingency (motion by Supervisor Efforts; second Supervisor Gores). The motion passed, 26 yes, 3 absent. - Court security position: A motion to remove a proposed court security position (approx. $122,778) from the 2025 budget failed (motion by Supervisor Conan; second Supervisor Vaughn). The vote was recorded as 2 yes, 24 no, 3 absent; the position remained in the adopted budget. - Final financing resolution and budget adoption: The board voted to approve the financing resolution as amended by the above actions (motion by Supervisor Cook; second Supervisor Bartlett). The resolution and the budget passed, 23 yes, 3 no, 3 absent. Supervisors Efforts, Conan and Vaughn were recorded as voting no on the final resolution.

Numbers and context presented: Jeff French and finance staff explained that the county is projecting to end the year with an unassigned general‑fund balance at a target around 31% of general fund expenditures, using a mix of sales tax reserve, short‑term borrowing and fund‑balance assignments to avoid a larger near‑term tax levy increase. French described a gross levy figure discussed in the published materials and said the proposed levy change for 2025 was a 0.46% increase (an increase of $104,132) compared with the prior year. The budget document also shows the county using roughly one‑third of accumulated sales tax fund balance to reduce property taxes, per the presentation.

Public hearing and testimony: Dozens of residents, library directors and trustees and cultural organization representatives spoke during the public hearing portion. Library directors from Rice Lake and Cumberland explained the Act 150 reimbursement formula (per Wisconsin statute 43.12) and urged the board to maintain 78% reimbursement. Museum and fair representatives described local economic and educational roles and asked that small appropriations be reinstated.

Next steps: With the financing resolution adopted, the county will finalize short‑term borrowings and proceed with the capital allocations approved by the board; items that require contracts or bond sales will be returned to the board for final appropriation and award as bids and financing are finalized.

Ending: The board concluded the evening by adopting the budget and directing staff to implement the approved financing plan and report back on any bid results or financing transactions.