County adopts 2026 budget assumptions; shared revenue estimate cut to 3.4% and market study for wages planned
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Summary
Marathon County approved budget assumptions for the 2026 process, including a reduced shared-revenue growth estimate of 3.4% because of Act 15 sales-tax changes, and directed staff to pursue a market study on wages and further analysis of insurance and utility cost impacts.
The Marathon County Board on July 22 adopted assumptions to guide development of the 2026 county budget, including revised revenue and expenditure projections and direction to examine wage comparability and insurance and utility costs.
Key changes adopted by the board include adjusting shared revenue growth to 3.4 percent, a change staff attributed to the state’s Act 15, which exempted sales tax on certain utility bills and reduced the county's estimated shared-revenue growth. The board also instructed staff to consider potential public charges under departmental authority and to move forward with a market study for wages and benefits.
Why it matters: Salaries and wages are a major portion of the county’s budget and previous years’ staffing challenges were discussed as a motivation for studying market competitiveness. Supervisor Marshall said she could not support the assumptions because she was uncertain what "market study" meant in practice. Supervisor Robinson and other members said the market study and compensation analysis are intended to guide where the county positions itself relative to peers and that the study results will inform committee and board-level decisions.
Other items: The board discussed insurance-consultant recommendations to mitigate expected insurance-cost increases and noted ongoing analysis of utility cost increases and potential mitigation measures. The assumptions will guide the administrator and HR/Finance committee as they prepare budget proposals.
Action: The board adopted the budget assumptions (Resolution 55-25) as recommended by the HR Finance Committee; the motion carried.
Ending: Staff will return to committees and the board with the market-study results and more detailed budget proposals during the 2026 budget process.
