Vernon County Historical Society urges commissioners to restore $12,500 stipend cut

Diane Krause, board chair of the Vernon County Historical Society, told the Vernon County budget hearing that the society relies on a county stipend to pay two part-time employees and that a proposed reduction would remove $12,500 from the organization’s budget. "The stipend that we are going to be reduced by is $12,500, and that is 18% of our budget," Krause said.

Board member Kevin Alderson reviewed the museum’s funding history, saying county support had been $25,000, later rose toward $30,000, and "just last year, the county increased their funding to $50,000 which was very close then to the museum salary budget of $51,670," he said. Alderson told the board a proposed 25% decrease in county funding would drop that support to $37,500 and leave the museum short of covering its staff salary budget.

Another speaker representing the Historical Society asked the board to use recently available reserve funds (referred to in testimony as the county's "whole chunk funds," replenished by a county grant) to cover the $12,500 shortfall rather than reducing the society’s operating stipend. "I'm proposing that we take that $12,500 that historical society needs and transfer that money from the whole chunk funds over to them," the speaker said.

Supporters framed the museum as both an educational asset and an economic draw: testimony referenced volunteers, regional research assistance and exhibits that draw visitors and spending into Vernon County. The society said staff assist researchers, support local publications and run exhibits that draw in tourists.

The hearing record shows no formal county decision on the request during the hearing; the chair closed the public comment period and moved to adjourn. Next steps for the board's formal budget decisions were not specified in the hearing remarks.