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Sawyer County officials present 2025 budget with modest levy increase, built‑in pay steps
Summary
County staff proposed a 2025 budget that locks in modest salary increases, expands step progression for employees and shifts some capital costs to debt service and one-time surplus transfers, producing a roughly $500,000 levy increase. The board heard public comment and approved a separate transit funding increase.
Mike Marran, the county presenter, told the Sawyer County Board that the proposed 2025 budget “does include the salary increases built right in — what we’ve put in there is a 2% increase… and then a 1% on July 13th and then the 1.25% steps as scheduled.” The presentation, given at the board meeting’s budget hearing, also showed net new construction of about 1.32% (roughly $140,000) and an estimated mill rate of 2.46.
The budget package that Marran outlined keeps the overall general fund roughly stable while increasing debt service to smooth future levy impacts related to multi‑year capital improvement borrowing and a proposed communications/tower project. Marran said the county plans to use $400,000 from a previously reserved resource-development fund plus an anticipated $400,000 state grant to cover an $800,000 dam project, a move intended to avoid adding that work to ongoing CIP debt and help limit tax increases for 2025.
Why it matters: staffing and capital decisions are front-loaded in the 2025 plan. The proposal includes expanding the step grid from 11 to 15 and budgeting two new positions (a zoning technician and a court‑security administrative assistant) to address workload. Health and Human Services (HHS) was budgeted for a modest increase; Marran and HHS staff noted that any ordinance‑related enforcement (for example, the tourist rooming licensing discussed later in the meeting) would trigger a separate fee and staffing proposal to be returned to the board.
Public comment during the hearing flagged a mix of operational and policy concerns. Several residents asked whether particular outside organizations should continue to receive county support and whether HHS had adequate staffing to implement licensing or enforcement duties. Carrie Sain, manager of Namakagan Transit, described rising vehicle prices and staffing costs and said the agency expects to pay roughly $823,000 for seven new buses in early 2025 with an expected 80% reimbursement from WisDOT.
Budget action taken: during the meeting a motion by Supervisor Schuman (seconded by Supervisor John Sosi) increased the county contribution to Namakagan Transit to $180,000. The board approved the adjustment during the session and staff will reflect that change in the November certification materials.
What’s next: staff will finalize budget materials for the November certification meeting and return with any fee or position requests needed to implement ordinances the board adopts. The board retains ability to amend the budget before final certification.
