Marathon County schedules auditor visit, asks staff for working-capital, insurance and budget impact updates

Marathon County Board of Supervisors set its next meeting for June 24, were told an auditor will be on site July 22 and directed staff to report back with updates on a proposed working capital policy, timelines for the county’s self-insurance program and potential effects of recent federal and state budget decisions on county services.

The requests came as board members and staff discussed agenda planning and follow-up from a recent closed session. A staff member said, "I think there's still it's sort of quicksand. Nobody's really certain what some of the ramifications are," and asked that staff track impacts to agencies if they appear.

Board members were told the working capital policy will be on the June agenda and that county staff expect to present the budget to the county board that evening. The staff member said an auditor will be present July 22 and described the June agenda as "full." Supervisors asked for a report on "self insured timelines" and for analysis of how federal and state budget decisions could affect county programs.

Officials identified several county-funded agencies that could be affected if state or federal budget changes materialize, including North Central Healthcare, the Marathon County Health Department and social services. The staff member said the precise fiscal ramifications were uncertain and that updates would come as more information becomes available.

The board also noted it would provide a future report back on matters discussed in closed session described only as "direction relative to negotiation strategy." No substantive details from that closed session were disclosed during the public portion of the meeting.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn moved by Supervisor Leimert, seconded by Supervisor Pool and carried by voice vote.