Marathon County leaders lay out 2026 budget process, warn levy growth tied to net new construction

Marathon County Board leaders and staff on June 19 outlined the county's 2026 budget development process and urged supervisors to engage through standing committees as staff prepares the administrator's proposed budget.

The presentation, led by the county administrator and finance director Sam, explained key concepts the board will use as it frames priorities: property tax levy versus levy rate, the role of equalized value and net new construction, distinctions between operating and capital budgets, and fund-balance designations for working capital and CIP rollover.

Sam, the county finance director, told supervisors that "our property tax levy is about 57, almost $58,000,000." He emphasized Wisconsin's levy limits and said the county's ability to increase the levy is tied to net new construction rather than inflation: "we have very strict levy limits. Our property tax levy'the amount of tax we can collect'can only increase by our net new…