Sawyer County adopts 2026 budget after amendment to add funds for Senior Resource Center and Weiss Library

The Sawyer County Board of Supervisors approved the county’s 2026 budget on a roll-call vote after adopting an amendment to add funding for the Senior Resource Center and the Sherman and Ruth Weiss Community Library.

Finance director Mike Markkan presented the final budget as the third and final review, noting a small $3,000 reduction in projected CIP interest and describing a pay-schedule proposal (2% increase in January, additional 1% in July). The budget includes capital improvement projects and a proposed bank note for CIP financing.

Supervisor Tweed Schumann moved an amendment to the budget to include the Senior Resource Center’s requested amount and the Weiss Library request; the amendment was seconded by Kaye Wilson and passed on a roll-call vote. The board then voted on the amended budget. The clerk recorded 12 yes votes and 3 no votes; the chair announced the motion carried with three opposed. Clerk read the adopted resolution language and reported the 2025 property tax levy to be collected in 2026 as $15,955,777; the county manager said the mill rate remained at 2.43.

Board discussion during budget deliberations addressed library funding levels (the Weiss Library had requested a larger increase than recommended; the director asked for $245,000) and the Senior Resource Center’s request for additional operating funds. Finance committee members raised concerns about increasing funding for outside entities while departmental budgets saw constraints; the amendment was approved with the board explaining the difference would come from fund balance for the Senior Resource Center request while the library increase changed the levy by approximately $30,000.

The meeting also approved a bank loan resolution to fund the capital improvement plan (CIP) up to $2,177,000 (4.39% interest, repayment due 04/01/2026).