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County board sets standard formula to guide Weiss and Winter library funding
Summary
The Sawyer County board adopted a resolution setting future library support as the greater of 150% of the circulation formula or 102% of the prior year's allocation with a 2.5% annual increase; the measure passed by voice vote after members discussed predictability and past one-time ARPA support.
The Sawyer County Board voted to adopt a resolution that will set future county support for the Weiss and Winter libraries as the greater of 150% of the circulation formula or 102% of the previous year's allocation, with an annual increase of 2.5 percent.
Mike, a board member who introduced the proposal, said the change would make funding less "emotionally driven" by giving libraries and the county a predictable method of calculating annual support. "Both parties know what it's going to be," he said, arguing predictability would reduce late requests for larger increases.
Board members asked how the formula would affect libraries that currently receive combined township funding and noted historical irregularity in allocations. Mike said the Weiss library recently received roughly 200% of the formula-defined amount and the proposed approach would base future increases on the previous year's allocation so amounts would "build from where we are" rather than roll back recent funding.
The resolution's sponsor, Stacy Hessel, made the motion to pass the resolution; it was seconded and approved by voice vote. Chair confirmed signatures were needed to finalize the resolution and staff circulated copies for sign-off.
Members discussed using a similar, formula-driven resolution for other county-supported programs, including the senior center and transit, and agreed to place those items on the next meeting's agenda. The board indicated the resolution is binding unless a subsequent resolution changes it.
The board passed the resolution during the meeting and prepared the required signatures; the item will appear as an agenda matter for potential similar resolutions at the next meeting on August 13.
