Manitowoc County board adopts 2026 budget and property levy after extended debate, 14-10

The Manitowoc County Board of Supervisors adopted its 2026 budget and property levy after extensive debate, passing the resolution 14-10.

The budget measure was introduced by Supervisor Hanson, who said the finance committee amended the county executive's proposal and formally moved to adopt the resolution for the 2026 budget and property levy. "So that being said, we have 2 resolutions tonight. The first resolution, I'm putting forward is adopting the 2026 budget and property levy," Hanson said when making the motion.

Board members spent much of the meeting discussing staffing and pay, use of one-time funds, and where borrowed funds would be applied. Supervisor Metzger proposed an amendment to reduce an additional highway incentive pay from 4% to 2% and to reallocate roughly $82,931.76 from that incentive to reduce borrowing for capital projects. Metzger argued departments should be treated equally and questioned the size of the proposed increase. Supporters of the incentive pointed to recruitment and retention problems in County Highway: "We have 5 openings at the highway department, and we had 5 candidates the other day. 3 were unqualified. 1 didn't show up, and the fifth said I'm not coming for that wage," a committee member said in explaining the wage adjustment.

The amendment to reduce the highway incentive failed when the clerk announced the motion did not carry.

Separately, supervisors debated proposed nepotism language that had been included in the budget resolution.…