Marathon County committee approves $525,585 CIP transfer for jail HVAC and amends highway budget to buy two plow trucks

Marathon County supervisors unanimously approved two budget measures on Oct. 7: a targeted capital funding increase to replace an aging jail HVAC system and an amendment to the 2025 highway budget to buy two ready-built plow trucks needed before winter.

The committee approved a motion to increase projected sales-tax revenue and corresponding CIP expenditure by $525,585.25 to fund the jail HVAC project, described in the budget materials as a mechanical replacement (moving from older refrigerant systems to compliant equipment). Chair Gibbs made the motion; Supervisor Lemmer seconded it and the vote was unanimous.

Deputy Administrator Holman and facilities staff told supervisors the jail’s mechanical system is at end of life and once certain EPA thresholds are crossed a full system replacement is triggered. Holman said the jail unit’s failure would create operational problems because the facility houses inmates, and staff characterized the HVAC replacement as the highest-priority facilities project if additional capital were available.

Separately, the committee approved a resolution to amend the 2025 highway budget by $760,541 to buy two plow trucks that are already built and available from a manufacturer’s speculative build program. Highway Commissioner Kevin told the committee that delays from the primary vendor had pushed the county’s ordered trucks into spring delivery windows, leaving the county short of reliable spare vehicles for winter. The two trucks would allow the department to retire or divest at least one poorly performing unit and improve winter-maintenance reliability. The highway purchase will be funded from an equipment-replacement reserve established in 2025 to allow opportunistic purchases.

Committee members discussed broader sales-tax strategy and capital prioritization. Administrator Leonard said the 2026 budget was built on a conservative sales-tax projection of $16.3 million but acknowledged independent forecasts (Ford Analytics) project higher receipts. Staff explained that sales-tax receipts are received with a lag (county payments are typically two months behind collections) and that being more aggressive in budgeting sales-tax revenue could fund projects sooner but increases the risk of being short if actual receipts fall below projections.

Other routine actions were also taken: the committee unanimously disallowed a claim from Caleb Ross because it was filed beyond 120 days and failed to state a cause; the committee approved the September claims and question costs; and it delayed two small funding requests (a Centergy site-readiness evaluation and a Historical Society programming request) for one month so the administrator can identify a budget line. All votes on these items were unanimous.

Votes at a glance: - Deny claim of Caleb Ross (claimed $300,000): motion to disallow carried unanimously. - Approve September claims and question costs: carried unanimously. - Increase CIP and sales-tax projection by $525,585.25 for jail HVAC: motion carried unanimously. - Amend 2025 highway budget by $760,541 to purchase two plow trucks: resolution adopted unanimously. - Delay funding decisions for Centergy site-readiness ($5,000 county share) and Historical Society programming ($20,000 request) to November: motion to postpone carried unanimously.

Staff will return with follow-up details on the delayed requests and provide continued budget analysis ahead of budget publication.