Marathon County board adopts $196.35 million 2026 budget and sets property tax levy after amendments

The Marathon County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt the 2026 county budget of $196,351,665 and to set the property tax levy at $61,225,481 following a string of amendments and extended debate.

The vote came after committee reports and line‑by‑line discussion of proposed changes to the executive budget. Finance Director Sam confirmed the updated figures on the floor and noted the resolution language was adjusted for the passed amendments; the board recorded that the new mill rate moved from about 3.5006 to 3.4892 following the changes. "We've tried to be as transparent as possible," Supervisor Robinson said during floor debate, thanking administration and committees for the work on the proposal.

Board members offered and disposed of several amendments that altered the final package. An infrastructure committee amendment (Amendment 3) redirected an unexpected increase in general transportation aid—about $194,678—toward higher-than-budgeted culvert repairs and related highway needs; the amendment passed though not unanimously. A separate proposal to raise daily jail stay fees (a $3 first‑day and $3 subsequent‑day increase) intended to fund the county K‑9 program was debated at length and ultimately defeated after members and the sheriff raised concerns about collection practices and collections rates.

Vice Chair Dickinson successfully moved to fold a $14,000 internet stipend into supervisors' base salaries for transparency and administrative simplicity. The change will be reflected in the board salary resolution and was incorporated into the budget numbers. Supervisor Marshall's amendment to reduce the levy and contingency by $200,000 also passed; proponents framed it as relief for taxpayers, including seniors, while opponents warned it would reduce resiliency against future state funding or programmatic changes.

A late proposal to increase projected sales tax revenue by $500,000 to reduce the debt service portion of the levy by the same amount was introduced but defeated amid concerns that sales tax is an estimate and should not be counted on to lower recurring levy obligations.

The board proceeded to a final recorded vote adopting the budget as amended; the motion carried but was not unanimous.

What happens next: administrative staff will finalize line items and incorporate the passed amendments into formal budget documents; departments will receive allocation instructions, and the finance office will publish the adopted numbers and the new mill rate. The board also flagged follow‑up work to monitor the outcomes of the GTA investment, the K‑9 funding conversation, and the implementation of the salary/stipend change.