Marathon County presents tentative 2026 budget with $3.50 mill rate; public hearing draws no speakers

Marathon County officials on Nov. 3 presented a tentative 2026 budget that county administrators say preserves services while responding to inflation and labor-market pressures.

“Marathon County continues to be a very well managed fiscal organization,” County Administrator Leonard told the Board of Supervisors as he summarized revenue and cost pressures behind the draft budget. Leonard highlighted a net new construction rate of 1.61% and equalized value growth of about 9% as positive revenue indicators, and said the county’s 2024 unemployment rate (about 2.7%) supports efforts to retain and recruit staff.

The tentative budget document read at the hearing sets a proposed mill rate of $3.50 and lists a proposed tax levy of $61,425,481; the clerk also quoted an equalized value of $17,547,049,400. Leonard said the proposed package results in a 17¢ nominal reduction in the county…