Marathon County clerk reports Q3 workload, warns of municipal clerk shortage

Summary

The county clerk reported Q3 activity figures (marriage licenses, passports, mail volumes), new e-certify postage savings and active engagement on election legislation; the clerk also said four newly hired municipal clerks in the county have quit since April and described a pilot onboarding program to address clerk staffing shortages.

The Marathon County clerk briefed the Human Resources, Finance and Property Committee on Q3 operations and statewide election-legislation developments during the Nov. 1 meeting.

The clerk reported the office processed 262 marriage licenses, 204 passport applications and 46,192 pieces of mail in Q3; postage for that volume cost $37,526.94. To reduce certified-mail expenses, staff have begun onboarding an e-certify platform that the clerk said saves roughly $2 per certified mailing.

The clerk described significant time spent on upcoming election-law changes and legislative outreach in Madison and said they co-chair the County Clerk's Association legislative committee. The clerk also outlined a pilot onboarding and training program with local partners aimed at reducing turnover among municipal clerks; since April Marathon County has lost four newly hired municipal clerks, the clerk said, often because individuals feel overwhelmed early in the job.

What’s next: The clerk’s office will continue onboarding e-certify and share the pilot program framework with local municipalities; committee members acknowledged the staffing challenge and thanked the clerk for the update.