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Richland County committee reviews mandatory and non‑mandatory services ahead of budget season
Summary
Committee discussed a packet of mandatory and non‑mandatory services, identified nine non‑mandated programs, and debated how staffing and funding mixes (county levy vs. state grants) affect budget choices for health and human services.
The Richland County Executive Finance Standing Committee reviewed a packet on mandatory and non‑mandatory services and discussed budget priorities ahead of the committee's August budget review.
The chair said the packet is not fully updated but listed nine services the county currently classifies as non‑mandated: ambulance, animal control, economic development, the fair, 911 outlay, parks, the Southwest Rural Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, Simons, and UW Extension. "We have 9 services that are not mandated," the chair said.
Members emphasized the central fiscal challenge: staffing costs drive most program expenses. One member cautioned against automatic cuts to non‑mandated services because many programs are interwoven with mandated obligations and state or federal block grants. A committee member noted that health and human services programs often include matching and pass‑through funding—mental health and substance‑abuse block grants among them—making it difficult to reassign or eliminate services without contracting alternatives to meet obligations.
Suggestions included tightening travel and training attendance to reduce expenditures and asking department heads for clear budgets showing county levy contributions versus other funding sources. The committee said it will continue refining the list and requested updated materials for the next packet.
