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Committee adopts substitute resolution guiding Marathon County joint review board votes on TIF terminations
Summary
Following public comment urging adoption of a "10 standards" approach, the committee approved a substitute resolution instructing the county's joint review board representative to vote on TID termination dates in a manner that benefits county government and taxpayers and not to support terms exceeding 38 years.
A substitute resolution directing Marathon County's representative on joint review boards to set tax incremental district (TID) termination dates with county taxpayer interests in mind passed unanimously at the Extension Education and Economic Development Committee meeting.
Peter Weinshank, who identified himself during public comment as a participant in the county's TIF task force, urged the committee to forward a “10 standards” approach to the full county board, citing what he called Department of Revenue best practices and saying the average Marathon County homeowner paid $321.13 in 2023 toward TIF. Weinshank said the proposal would slow down TID approval at joint review boards and give the joint review board—not the municipality—the authority to set TID lifespan consistent with new state law.
Sam Fenske, Finance Director, reported on recent joint review board meetings and annual TID reviews in multiple municipalities and summarized that several TID amendments and reviews have occurred across villages and cities in the county.
Vice Chair Feifrick presented a substitute resolution that removed opinionated language and updated factual figures from Department of Revenue data. The substitute’s preamble, read into the record, stated that Marathon County had 40 active TIDs in 2025 with an increment value of $1,294,624,624, an average projected lifespan of 25.85 years, and that 35% of active TIDs had been extended. The substitute resolution directs the county’s joint review board representative—under statute cited in the motion—to vote to set termination dates consistent with existing law and county taxpayer interests and states that the representative shall not vote to support a TID termination date exceeding 38 years beyond its creation.
Administrator Leonard said he incorporated some non‑substantive operational changes into the version forwarded with the packet and confirmed county staff would notify municipalities about the board’s direction.
Motion and vote: Vice Chair Feifrick moved to approve the substitute resolution; Supervisor Hagen seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
The resolution instructs the county's joint review board representative on future joint review board matters to vote in a manner that prioritizes county government and property taxpayers and to oppose setting TID termination dates beyond the 38‑year cap noted in the resolution. The measure will be forwarded to the County Board for consideration.
