County board trims borrowing, approves $2.45 million promissory notes for capital projects

MANITOWOC — The Manitowoc County Board of Supervisors voted to approve an amended borrowing resolution authorizing up to $2,450,000 in general obligation promissory notes for capital projects, primarily to fund road resurfacing, after members reduced the county's original $3,450,000 authorization.

The amendment, which removed language authorizing law enforcement center upgrades and limited proceeds to road resurfacing, passed 24–1 on a simple majority vote; the final resolution then passed with the required three‑quarters membership, also 24–1. The consent and formal vote totals were recorded by the county clerk.

Finance Committee Chair Supervisor Grambow introduced the initial proposal and said the borrowing reflected projects already approved in the county budget passed in November. Grambow briefed supervisors that sales tax revenues were ahead of last year and that the county still anticipated modest surpluses in the general fund and highway fund. He reported sales tax receipts of about $3.4 million through the end of May 2026 and said the county remained on track for a budget surplus just under $2 million.

County Executive Tyler Martel urged caution about expanding borrowing and explained the background for the package. "I trust that everybody read my letter that I sent out yesterday," Martel said, saying he verified the numbers before proposing the measure. He described the sales tax uptick as largely one‑time money and said the county's longer‑term goal is to reduce reliance on borrowing for road work.

Opponents of the larger package argued that narrower borrowing would reduce long‑term debt and provide clearer limits on project scope. Supervisor Sortwell said the amendment improved transparency by removing vague language that had previously tied road work and law enforcement upgrades into a single borrowing authorization.

Martel told the board that, because the county pays down existing principal in 2026, the amended borrowing was expected to produce a net reduction in overall principal indebtedness of about $385,000 by year end, rather than the $615,000 increase projected under the earlier proposal.

The board recorded the amendment vote first (simple majority) and then voted on the resolution as amended (three‑quarters majority required). The clerk announced both results at the meeting.

The resolution authorizes the county to proceed with marketing the notes and finalizing terms; supervisors did not vote on specific contract terms during the meeting. The county executive and Finance Committee said staff will return with specifics as bids and market conditions are finalized.

Next procedural steps: county staff will complete the financing process and report back to the Finance Committee and full board with final terms and any required administrative actions.