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Administrator: Marathon County will hold vacant positions to help balance 2026 budget; estimates about 15 positions affected
Summary
County Administrator Leonard told the Marathon County Executive Committee he expects to hold about 15 vacant positions countywide as part of 2026 budget balancing and described program priorities and available one‑time/new revenues.
County Administrator Leonard provided an overview of the 2026 budget development process and told the executive committee the administration plans to hold a number of vacant positions rather than immediately fill them as part of balancing strategies. Leonard estimated the approach could amount to about 15 full‑time equivalents (FTEs) countywide, either through attrition or deliberate hold‑open decisions.
Leonard said departments are being asked to identify shared sacrifices and possible efficiencies; he used the Register of Deeds as an example of an office where a vacant position would be significant. He said county leaders must balance inflationary costs and workforce recruitment/retention pressures while implementing wage adjustments and accounting for new revenue.
Leonard cited an estimated $837,000 in net new construction revenue available to the county but said “our cost to continue far outpace that.” He outlined several priorities that have arisen during budget work: a minimum revenue guarantee program at the Central Wisconsin Airport, emergency shelter funding in partnership with the City of Wausau for 2026, a proposal to expand one veteran services position from 0.75 to 1.0 FTE, and a proposal to defund one health‑department position to reallocate funds to homelessness work.
The administrator said the sheriff’s office budget remains under discussion and that some departments may require multiple budget meetings. Leonard characterized the budgeting approach as phased and incremental and said staff are working line‑by‑line through departmental budgets. Committee members asked for additional detail in future committee meetings.
No formal committee vote was taken on staffing holds; the administrator will continue budget development and return proposals to standing committees and the full county board as the process progresses.
