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Rock County Board approves ongoing Youth and Governance program, allocates $5,000
Summary
After public comment from a program participant and a debate about committee placement and funding, the Rock County Board voted to establish a permanent Youth and Governance program and allocate $5,000 to support orientation, travel and participant materials.
The Rock County Board of Supervisors on a voice vote approved a resolution to establish an ongoing Rock County Youth and Governance Program and allocate $5,000 to support its operations.
A student participant addressed the board before the vote. “My name is Max Wilson. I'm from Milton. I'm a junior at Milton High School, and I'm a participant in the Rock County Youth and Governance program,” he said, urging supervisors to make the program permanent and describing mentorship he received from Supervisor Peer.
Supporters said the program gives youth direct exposure to county operations and can help bridge a generational participation gap. Supervisor Sutherland said the program is a “good bridge to start” getting youth input into long-range planning. Multiple supervisors described the program as an investment in future civic participation.
Opponents and questioners raised process and budget concerns. Supervisor Schwartz asked why a new committee was needed instead of folding the program into an existing standing committee, saying, “The idea that we need another committee that spend money on it just seems a little too much.” Supervisor Cullen asked for specifics about the $5,000 request, noting the program has run this year largely on private contributions.
Supervisor Wilson, chair of the ad hoc committee that ran the program this year, answered budget questions. He said administrative support used for recruitment and application processing came from the extension office, which currently has a vacancy. He said the $5,000 would cover transportation and meal costs for a planned January trip to Madison, orientation supplies, participant shirts and a modest per diem for supervising mentors when appropriate. “If we can get by with less, we certainly will,” he said.
The motion to establish the program was moved by Supervisor Sutter and seconded by Supervisor Mawhinney. The chair announced the motion passed after a voice vote with two supervisors recorded as opposed. The chair asked the county administrator to schedule a follow-up calendar item to discuss placement of the program within county committee structure.
Next steps: staff and the ad hoc committee will provide follow-up details to leadership about committee placement and the planned January visit to Madison; the resolution directs the program to continue as an ongoing county initiative.
