Committee approves budget amendment to buy two highway trucks after vendor delays leave fleet at risk

The Marathon County Infrastructure Committee on Oct. 2 approved a resolution amending the 2025 highway budget to purchase two snowplow trucks that can be put into service before winter, funding the purchases with transfers from fund balance.

Kevin of the county highway department told the committee the department has an aging fleet and that, because truck builders are behind schedule, four replacement trucks already ordered are now scheduled for delivery in March–May of next year and will not be available for the upcoming plow season. “We’re not gonna have these four trucks in service for this upcoming plow season,” Kevin said.

Kevin said the department tracked down two ready-built trucks from a vendor that had produced a stock of vehicles previously ordered for a larger customer; those trucks are built to higher-spec standards and include features such as a single-point greasing system, improved hydraulics and a slurry system for brining. The vendor price for the trucks was about $380,000 each, and county staff told the committee that recent bids and vendor estimates for future chassis and builds put unit prices in the $380,000–$400,000 range.

Sam, finance staff, said the resolution will amend the current budget to increase transfers from fund balance as the funding source and increase capital purchases in the expenditure budget. She noted the amendment requires a two-thirds vote because it changes the adopted budget.

Supervisor Hartinger asked for clarification on fleet availability; Kevin said four trucks are on back order and one vehicle that is parked for safety concerns is effectively out of service, which reduces the county's operational fleet. Kevin described the maintenance burden and high repair costs on older trucks, including individual repair bills in the $10,000–$60,000 range.

A motion by Supervisor Hartinger, seconded by Aaron Greiner, to forward the resolution to the full county board and amend the 2025 highway budget passed by unanimous voice vote. Committee members recorded unanimous approval; Sam had earlier noted the two-thirds vote requirement for a budget amendment.

Why it matters: The county cited safety and service risks for winter operations, lost winter maintenance revenue when trucks are nonoperational, and high maintenance costs on older equipment as reasons to accelerate purchases of operable trucks now rather than wait for delayed, custom-built units.

Implementation notes: The purchase is to be funded from fund balance transfers and requires a two-thirds vote at the county board to finalize the budget amendment. County staff said the resolution will increase the capital purchase budget and the transfer from fund balance accordingly.

Speakers quoted in this report include Kevin (Highway Department) and Sam (finance staff).