Wausau HR committee approves handbook change after Wisconsin Retirement System rate increase

The Wausau Human Resources Committee approved a revision to the city employee handbook addressing language tied to the Wisconsin Retirement System contribution rate.

The change removes handbook wording that referred to a 7% employee contribution and aligns the manual with the higher WRS rate, which committee members said has risen to 7.9%.

The Human Resources Director told the committee that the handbook currently includes an exclusion for the Wisconsin Retirement System under general provisions and that the city must update that language after the WRS rate increase. “The WRS percentage rate...it was raised the WRS rates were raised to 7.9%,” the Human Resources Director said. The director also said the city will need to revisit collective bargaining agreement language that references the prior 7% contribution for employees hired after 07/01/2011.

Committee member Killian moved to accept the handbook language change; Martins seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Committee members placed the July 2025 human resources report on file earlier in the meeting and approved the committee minutes from the July 14, 2025 meeting before taking the handbook action.

The committee did not set an implementation date in the public discussion; the director indicated collective bargaining agreements will need separate review to reconcile handbook language with contract provisions.

The meeting later moved to other agenda items, including discussion of a proposed fire-department reorganization and a closed session on personnel matters.