County adopts new budget amendment process; supervisors add amendment preserving night-of-board amendment rights

The Manitowoc County Board on Tuesday approved Ordinance 71, repealing and recreating county code section 4.05 (budget development, adoption and amendment) to establish a clearer committee-based review and amendment process for the annual budget.

The ordinance, as adopted, directs standing oversight committees to meet with department heads to review budget requests and proposed changes before the full county board considers the annual budget. The goal, supporters said, is to ensure committee-level vetting of proposed amendments and to reduce last-minute, inadequately vetted changes at the board’s final budget meeting.

An amendment approved on the floor preserves a supervisor’s ability to present amendments at the county board’s budget deliberation meeting if the appropriate oversight committee or the finance committee does not adopt the proposed change. That amendment was offered by Supervisor Behnke and approved by roll call; supervisors then voted 20–1 (with four absent) to adopt the ordinance as amended.

Why it matters

County officials said the change aims to create a more orderly process for budget deliberations and committee oversight. Supporters noted the human services budget and the recent passage of a half‑percent sales tax highlighted the need for clearer committee review and better coordination between department requests and the county executive’s proposed budget.

Details and procedure

- The amendment (replacement of subsection g) reads in effect: any amendment proposed by a supervisor may be presented to the appropriate oversight committee; if neither the oversight committee nor the finance committee adopts the proposed amendment, the supervisor may present the amendment to the full county board during its deliberations on the annual budget. The amendment removes an earlier requirement that supervisors submit proposed amendments to the finance director and corporation counsel at least 48 hours before the meeting unless waived by a two‑thirds vote.

- Final vote on the ordinance: 20 in favor, 1 opposed; 4 supervisors absent.

Next steps

The ordinance takes effect per regular county code timelines. County committees and department heads should follow the revised schedule and procedures for budget review during the next budget cycle. The board’s action does not itself appropriate new funds; it changes the procedural rules governing how the county develops and amends its annual budget.

Ending

Board members said the measure balances the need for committee vetting with the prerogative of elected supervisors to propose amendments during the board’s final budget deliberations.