County administration told the Sawyer County administration committee the preliminary budget for the coming year is likely to show mostly routine increases but flagged several one-time and recurring pressures, including software renewals, consolidated Microsoft licensing and personnel costs.

At the committee meeting Miss Merkin presented a preliminary budget overview and said most departments show normal increases over the prior year. "What you're gonna see is really just normal increases from the year before," she said, adding that printing costs had been increased after past underbudgeting.

County Administrator Mike said committee members will be asked in August to submit up to three areas of focus for each department of jurisdiction; those submissions will feed a baseline for the county's strategic plan. "That is to build a baseline for our strategic plan and get some unfiltered information from the people in the trenches... and from the community," Mike said.

The information technology report referenced a planned email consolidation and a larger software renewal cycle next year. An IT presenter said consolidating Microsoft products into a single billing structure contributed to a budget increase and that several multi-year software renewals will create a one-year spike. "The IT budget [is] going up about $120,000 for software," the presenter said.

Human resources staffing changes were noted: the county has interviewed candidates for the maintenance director post and has posted the highway superintendent position after the incumbent announced retirement.

Administrators warned the upcoming budget cycle is more challenging than recent years because the county is unlikely to receive significant new revenue increases from sales taxes or interest earnings. The administrator explained timber sales and shared revenue helped in prior years, but those are not guaranteed sources going forward.

Committee members were asked to return strategic-plan focus sheets by the stated deadline so staff can compile them for the board. No final budget decisions or appropriations were made at the meeting; department heads and staff will return with detailed estimates and follow-up information during the budget process.