Board votes to fold internet stipend into supervisor pay and sets role-based increases

The Marathon County Board on Nov. 11 approved a substitute resolution to restructure supervisor compensation for the 2026–2028 term, folding an irregular internet stipend into regular wages and establishing a base wage plus role-based increases for chair and vice chair. Vice Chair Dickinson said the change increases transparency by showing the stipend as part of wage reporting and eliminates administrative burdens tied to distributing a $30 monthly internet payment to some supervisors.

The substitute resolution creates a single base wage for supervisors, applies a role-based supplement for the chair and vice chair, and applies a combined first-year increase of 8.24% (the administration characterized that amount as 3% plus the transferred stipend). Vice Chair Dickinson said the package ‘‘eliminates the administrative effort’’ of the separate stipend and provides wage transparency.

Board members debated the substitute briefly; the clerk updated the meeting manager and the substitute replaced the originally offered amendment. The substitute carried but was not unanimous. The board directed staff to prepare a substitute resolution text reflecting the change for the official record.

What’s next: Administration will incorporate the new salary figures into the official resolution language and produce a subsequent substitute resolution for posting; staff indicated a follow-up substitute resolution to address related wage and benefit reporting would be provided after the budget work was finalized.