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Marathon County administrator previews proposed 2026 budget; at least 15 vacant positions likely not funded
Summary
Administrator Leonard told the committee county staff are conducting a line‑by‑line review of the 2026 budget, aligning revenues and expenses, reviewing fees and rates, and anticipates at least 15 vacant positions will be left unfunded in the proposed budget as part of balancing under levy limits.
MARATHON COUNTY — Administrator Leonard updated the Human Resources, Finance and Property Committee on the 2026 budget development timeline and said staff will present a proposed budget that likely defunds at least 15 vacant positions across departments to help balance the levy and implement a prior wage study.
Leonard said department heads have completed initial budget meetings and staff are aligning revenue streams with expenses and reviewing fees and rates countywide. "We've met with all of the departments...we are really going line by line through the budget to look at expenditures and kind of question certain expenditures," Leonard said. He added that the county is "seeking to make sure that those [fees] are reviewed" and noted some fee adjustments are appearing on other committee agendas.
On staffing, Leonard told the committee he expects the proposed budget will include "no less than 15 positions that are what I'll call not funded or defunded through the budget process." He said the impact will affect both small and large departments; for example, he expects not to fund one position in the register of deeds (a four‑person office) and to remove at least one vacancy from facilities and capital management. Departments with larger personnel counts, including the sheriff's office, remain a focal point for follow‑up budget discussions.
Budget schedule and next steps: Leonard said the county will present a proposed budget to the County Board later this month and committees will have opportunities in October and November to recommend amendments before final adoption. He emphasized there will be stopping points in the process and the County Board remains the ultimate arbiter of the budget.
The committee discussed using attrition as a budget control measure; Vice Chair Dickinson characterized using attrition as "a fair and reasonable thought process over time." Leonard thanked department heads and finance staff for work to align the budget under levy limits and other revenue constraints.
