Dunn County Transit committee approves 2026 budget, hears updates on grants, fleet and ridership

The Dunn County Transit Committee on Aug. 13 approved the agency’s 2026 budget after a presentation from transit staff and brief discussion by committee members.

The approval followed a review of 2025 financials through July and a presentation of the 2026 revenue and expense projections. Austin, a transit staff member, told the committee the 2025 financials were about 4% over budget through seven months due to several one-time costs, including two front blower/defrost fan motors at about $3,500 and service-contract charges that have run nearer $18,000 versus an annual allocation of roughly $12,000. He said WisDOT reporting for quarters 1 and 2 was submitted only recently and that those reimbursements were expected in the next few weeks.

The nut graf: committee members prioritized passing the budget to secure continued operations and planned capital purchases while staff described both short-term repairs and longer-term capital reserves funding.

In the presentation, staff said passenger fares remain an important revenue source; the agency needs about $7,000 and has roughly $7,700 in current accounts receivable. Transit capital balances include about $607,000 earmarked for two electric buses and roughly $160,000 for a planned solar panel field; any unspent 2025 capital funds will carry into 2026, producing a net-zero effect on multi-year capital accounting, staff said. Staff described a proposed 2.75% increase for team total cost in 2026 and a 5% contingency in general administration for amounts that exceed expectations.

Committee members asked about accounting changes and shared-cost allocations between transit and facilities; staff said some cost-allocation and health/dental changes produced savings that could be reallocated to drive positions or outsourced repairs. Staff noted about $35,000 of available funds that could be used to outsource billing or fund additional hours.

Committee discussion touched on operations and staffing: an operations supervisor who is semi-retired and limited to about 1,200 annual hours (≈24 hours per week) has expressed interest in moving to a driving role, which would allow hiring a full-time operations supervisor. The committee also discussed a recent full-time driver departure in May and a part-time hire in July; staff said two part-time drivers expressed interest in increasing hours and that restoring full schedules after Labor Day should help fill service needs.

Staff reported several service and fleet updates. Two new front-lift motors, front brake pads and hubs were installed; a damaged top lift plate on one bus was replaced and will be bolted back in, and staff previewed a newer hybrid transit bus expected to return to service after Labor Day. Riders on community routes reached the best July since at least 2019, and staff noted growth versus 2023 in July ridership. The returning Stout route and the upcoming stout-route service after Labor Day were discussed as factors that could affect fall ridership.

On safety and shelter equipment, staff said the Dunn County Health Department supplied Narcan boxes for shelters with a QR code system to notify the health department when boxes need restocking; staff said Narcan doses also are carried on each bus and that the county had not needed to use them in the past year or two. Staff also said YODEC units (unit name as presented) and a new phone system are being installed, with the target of completion before Labor Day.

Committee members and staff discussed the pilot rural service. Staff said rural demand has been low so far despite social-media promotion and that the service is not incurring added fixed-route cost when unused. The committee discussed options such as moving from one day a month to one day a week in quadrants or advertising at local community hubs and small newspapers to increase awareness. Staff said they had one out-of-town trip paid by the rider and noted conversations with the ADRC about expanding options for rural riders.

The committee briefly reviewed state-level grant and subsidy receipts: staff said the 85.21 grant payment for the year was paid in full, Menominee city subsidy payments arrive quarterly and the committee had received three of four quarterly payments, and they had received one of two "stout" checks for the year with the next payments due in October and December. Staff also described a county-created trust account that can hold about $60,000–$80,000 so funds are not returned to the state; staff said that account is near capacity.

Committee members then moved to consider and approve the Dunn County Transit 2026 budget. A motion and a second were made and the committee voted in favor; the chair declared the budget passed.

Ending: Staff and members set the next meeting for Sept. 10, same time and place, and listed follow-up items including finalizing the phone/system installs, monitoring capital carryover and continuing planning for rural-service outreach and staffing adjustments.