Marathon County Board (Budget Hearing) - 11/2/26

The Marathon County Board’s 2027 budget hearing on November 2, 2026, reviewed the proposed budget before its scheduled November 10 adoption; no budget amendments or final votes were reported at this meeting. The proposed tax levy is $66,248,545, with a $3.48 mill rate. The central capital project discussion concerned the new highway facility, estimated at just under $55 million. The county’s plan is to avoid new borrowing by using $30 million already allocated and financing the remaining roughly $25 million through a phased funding strategy that shifts eligible payments to the debt levy. Board members and a resident questioned placing the full $3.5 million North Central Health Care payment on the debt levy in 2027 and asked whether reserves, property-sale proceeds, or other funds could reduce the amount or shorten the interfund loan. The administrator said post-audit balances and project costs would inform later decisions, and that the board would receive project updates. The capital improvement plan is to be considered with the budget.

Residents urged the county to stop funding Flock license-plate-reader cameras and adopt safeguards for surveillance technology. The administrator said the sheriff’s proposed 2027 budget includes $6,300 to continue the contract for five cameras for part of the year; three additional cameras are funded under a grant whose contract term runs through March 2029. The sheriff defended the system and described existing access controls and monitoring, while noting a further discussion was scheduled for the Public Safety Committee. No change to the camera contract or related policy was adopted at this hearing. The board also discussed proposed staffing and fee changes, with officials saying certain positions would be supported by state contract funding or billable program revenue rather than county tax levy.