Marathon County board directs $150,000 placeholder for airport air-service fund after heated debate

Marathon County supervisors voted June 24 to direct the county administrator to include $150,000 in the proposed 2026 budget as a county contribution toward a regional air service incentive fund intended to help recruit or stabilize passenger flights at Central Wisconsin Airport.

The move — carried by the board but not unanimously — is meant as a signaling device to encourage private and neighboring-county partners to commit matching funds, supporters said, while opponents said it short-circuits the budget-prioritization process and risks subsidizing airlines that may not provide long-term service.

County Administrator Leonard said the resolution is “an expression of support” that does not by itself obligate county spending. “This expression of support does not actually tie any funds to, to being allocated in 2026,” Leonard said. He told supervisors the administrator will present a budget to the Human Resources, Finance and Property Committee in September that reflects the direction in the resolution and that any board member may…