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Onalaska council approves 2026 budget after trimming staff requests, adds $95,193 to equipment fund
Summary
The Onalaska Common Council voted to approve changes to the proposed 2026 budget and then adopted the 2026 city budget and appropriation resolution, moving roughly $95,193 (including a $1,271 reallocation) into the equipment replacement fund after debate over staffing and affordability.
The Onalaska Common Council on Monday approved a package of changes to the proposed 2026 executive budget and then adopted the city's 2026 budget and an accompanying appropriation resolution.
Finance director Sabrina said the packet contained five adjustments: a correction to the levy for the Gunderson parking ramp, reductions to proposed additional hours and changes to position classifications, removal of a street worker from the draft, and an increased tax‑increment estimate. Together those adjustments freed $95,193 to be placed in the equipment replacement fund, she said.
Alder Kathy Lowendorf moved to approve the budget changes as presented; the motion was seconded and discussed. Alder Diane Wolf opposed removing several positions and said she would not support the budget if items 2, 3 and 4 remained removed, arguing the city should "be more responsive and not reactive" and warning of effects on morale. Alder Steven Knott and others said they did not dispute the need for positions but worried the city could not sustainably afford all of them and preferred a more cautious approach.
After discussion, the council took a roll‑call vote and approved the proposed changes by a 4–1 margin. The mayor reopened the public hearing for comment on the changes; no members of the public spoke.
Later in the meeting, following a separate reallocation of funds tied to a failed pay‑raise resolution (see separate coverage), a $1,271.39 reduction in the general levy and corresponding increase in the equipment replacement fund was recorded and incorporated into the appropriation resolution. The council then voted 5–1 to adopt the 2026 city budget and to pass Resolution 26‑2025, which authorizes appropriation of necessary funds for 2026 operations. Alder Diane Wolf cast the lone dissent on the final budget vote.
The council's discussion highlighted the tradeoff between preserving staffing and long‑term fiscal sustainability; no public comments were offered on the budget during the hearings. The council adjourned at 6:41 p.m.
