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Highway staff outline 2026 budget priorities, propose 3% COLA and CDL training funds
Summary
Highway department staff presented 2026 budget highlights including a recommended 3% cost-of-living adjustment, additional funding for CDL training, projected use of roughly $4 million in fund reserves to offset projects, and plans for major work on Highway D; staff said registration-fee projections and borrowing plans were also reviewed.
Portage County highway staff outlined key elements of the 2026 budget during the committee meeting, emphasizing wage adjustments, training and capital projects.
The staff member said the recommended salary schedule includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment and additional funding was added for CDL training to address recruitment and retention challenges. Staff described recurring position reclassification requests and said HR will work on options to update position descriptions.
On capital needs, staff highlighted major projects including a planned reconstruction of Highway D in Blaine covering 7.6 miles; the project will include shoulder improvements and milling in targeted sections. Staff said the department plans to use approximately $4,000,000 from reserves to offset project costs and projected a modest tax-levy increase of about $53,000 (roughly 1.0% over the previous year) tied to initial financing projections.
Committee members asked about registration-fee projections and whether planned projects would require additional borrowing. Staff said next year is planned as a non-borrowing year for highway and that registration fees and carryover funds will be used to offset projects where possible. The committee requested further detail on retirements and recruitment needs ahead of the final budget hearing.
