Committee approves three-month extension, prorated funding for Marshfield Job Center partnership

The Finance, Budget and Personnel Committee voted Jan. 21 to recommend council approval of an amended partnership agreement with the Marshfield Job Center extending the lease and city support through March 31, 2025 and committing one-quarter of the customary $15,000 annual city contribution for Q1 only.

Steve Marks, city administrator, described the Job Center’s long-standing relationship with the city and explained that North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development (Northcentral) had a one-year lease running April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025 to allow time to explore alternate locations and partnerships. Marks said Northcentral has told city staff it likely will opt out of the lease effective March 31, 2025 and may move to another location; the Job Center had about 405 visits in 2024 but the agency does not track unique individuals or placement locations.

Marks said the city historically pays roughly three-quarters of a part-time staffing position (about $15,000 net) and receives roughly $8,000 in rent from the Job Center, leaving a net city cost of about $7,000 in prior years. Committee members raised concerns about return on investment and the lack of data showing how many unique Marshfield residents received job placements. Council member Andrew (surname not specified in transcript) moved to amend the motion to extend the lease through the first quarter and prorate city funding to one-quarter of the $15,000 annual amount; the amendment passed on a voice vote and the amended motion then passed.

The committee record shows the amendment commits funding only for Q1 (approximately $3,750) and directs further review; members suggested inviting Jane Spencer, executive director of the North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, to present more detailed outcomes and metrics in a future meeting. The committee identified the funding source as the council contributions line (account 57990) in the general fund.