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Finance committee approves budget modification to cover unanticipated legal expenses; staff cite personnel vacancy savings
Summary
The committee approved a modification to the city attorney’s legal services budget after staff reported unanticipated litigation and prosecution expenses; staff said assistant city attorney vacancies have generated personnel savings that offset much of the cost.
The Wausau Finance Committee on June 24 approved a budget modification to increase legal services funding in the city attorney’s office after staff reported unanticipated litigation and prosecution expenses.
City Attorney Ken Jacobson summarized billing for municipal prosecution, litigation and legal advice. He said the 2025 budgeted amount for outside legal expenses was $70,000 and that, to date, billings exceeded that figure by roughly $37,219; some amounts (including a Decker v. Miller matter) were expected to be reclassified to the insurance fund, which would reduce the legal-services overrun. Jacobson said vacancies among assistant city attorneys generated personnel savings of $223,530.94 to date, which staff said more than offset legal billing to date.
During discussion staff estimated a budget modification in the neighborhood of $129,000 that would be taken from personnel savings; during the meeting discussion that estimate was revised upward toward roughly $140,000 when additional line items were included. Committee members voted to approve the budget modification.
Alder Gisselman moved the measure; Alder Tierney seconded. By voice vote the committee approved the change.
