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Public hearing on Vernon County’s 2026 budget closes after residents urge support for museum and transit
Summary
After roughly a dozen residents testified — mostly urging restoration of the Historical Society stipend and continued funding for the regional smart bus — the chair closed the 2026 budget hearing and a motion to adjourn passed by voice vote.
Public comment at the Vernon County 2026 budget hearing featured multiple residents urging the county to restore funding for the Vernon County Historical Society and to continue short-term support for the regional smart bus service.
Speakers included Diane Krause, chair of the Vernon County Historical Society, who quantified a pending stipend reduction of $12,500 (which she said equaled 18% of the society’s budget); Kevin Alderson, a Historical Society board member, who reviewed the museum’s funding history and salary budget; several smart-bus riders and supporters who provided personal accounts and asked the county to preserve the route; and Francesca Veil, who said she submitted a petition with about 800 signatures in favor of the service.
With public comment concluded the chair asked for any additional remarks, closed the hearing and called for an adjournment motion. After a voice vote in which "Aye" was heard, the chair announced "Motion passes," and thanked participants. The hearing record contains no formal vote on the funding requests during the public comment period; the county board's formal budget deliberations were not recorded in the public comment transcript.
