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Public hearing on proposed Manitowoc County budget: judge endorses opioid-funded abatement, public raises dome and reserve concerns
Summary
During the county’s public hearing on the executive’s proposed 2026 budget, a circuit-court judge urged continued use of opioid-settlement funds for abatement programming; other public commenters urged deputies be equipped with cameras and questioned reserve declines and pay raises.
The Manitowoc County Board opened a public hearing on the county executive’s proposed 2026 budget and heard several citizens speaking before closing the hearing.
One attendee identified only as the judge for Circuit Court Branch 3 said he supported two elements of the proposed approach: directing opioid-settlement funding to human services for abatement programming and continuing work on courthouse repairs that have already been started. "I just want to, state my support of 2 of the things that, I know the county executive is looking to do. 1 is to, have some of the opioid grant money, given to human services so that they can continue with abatement programming," the judge said. The judge also urged the board to remember the rising cost of delayed capital work on the courthouse dome and praised recent window and HVAC replacements.
During the same public-comment period, other citizens raised separate issues that bear on budget decisions. Jim Langley of the City of Manitowoc urged the board to ensure deputies have body-worn cameras, citing officer safety and liability concerns. He also recommended stricter approaches to repeat drug offenders and said Winnebago Mental Health’s locked programs produced good results in his experience.
Another speaker using the name Jim Thairo raised concerns about the county’s undesignated reserve, citing a long-term decline in that fund and specific personnel pay increases. Thairo said the undesignated reserve had fallen from about $13.7 million in 2003 to $1.825 million as of Dec. 31, 2024, and questioned a pay increase for a highway operations manager. He called for changes to the board’s composition at upcoming elections.
The board chair closed the public hearing after the third and final call for speakers and then opened the regular public-comment period. The public hearing and these remarks will be part of the record as supervisors consider the proposed budget, which the county board is scheduled to vote on at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2025.
Ending: The county board did not take final action on the executive’s proposed budget during the meeting; members were repeatedly urged to review the executive’s budget letter and to consult with finance and personnel staff before the Nov. 4 vote.
