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County administrator warns of likely cuts as Marathon County begins 2026 budget development
Summary
Marathon County Administrator told the Public Safety Committee the 2026 budget process is underway and that the county will likely leave several vacant positions unfunded, while seeking rate and fee adjustments to help balance rising personnel costs.
Marathon County Administrator Jess Leonard told the Public Safety Committee on Sept. 9 that 2026 budget preparation is underway and that the county will likely need to reduce funded positions to balance rising personnel costs.
Leonard said initial department meetings are complete and follow-up sessions are scheduled, but the county is not yet at a balanced budget. "We're not there yet," Leonard said, adding that a central budget issue is how to handle rates and fees and how adjustments should align with recent wage and fringe increases.
Leonard said the county expects to not fund at least eight currently vacant positions as part of the staffing reductions; he named several specific examples of positions likely not to be funded in 2026, including one position in register of deeds, one in clerk of courts, two in the health department, and one in facilities and capital management. The county will also modify a contract with UW Extension, Leonard said.
Leonard placed the budget shortfall in context, noting Marathon County's net new construction value is 1.68 (percent), which equates to about $837,000 of new operating tax levy — an amount he said is small when compared with total payroll. "When you consider our payroll is well over $70,000,000 across our 750 employees," Leonard said, "that amount of money doesn't even keep pace with increases we have for personnel."
Committee members asked whether the county expects layoffs. Leonard said the county historically seeks to avoid layoffs and will target vacant positions for reductions. He said the sheriff's office and other departments will be part of follow-up meetings about how to fund staffing relative to attrition.
Leonard said the budget team will identify fees where market-rate adjustments are appropriate and where statute prohibits fee changes. The committee requested a future packet item listing discretionary and non‑discretionary programs and a dedicated section outlining all new additional spending so members can evaluate trade-offs during budget discussions.
The committee had no formal vote on the budget update; Leonard said he will present a proposed budget that will identify targeted unfunded positions and other options for balancing the 2026 budget.
