Marathon County Board (Budget) Meeting - 11/10/26

The Marathon County Board’s annual budget meeting on November 10, 2026, adopted the 2027 county budget, though the vote was not unanimous. Debate centered on financing the approximately $55 million highway shop project and its $25 million funding gap, including a plan to use an interfund loan and debt-levy revenues rather than borrow at higher rates. Supervisors debated an amendment to reduce the proposed levy increase; the transcript does not clearly record its outcome. The board also approved a budget amendment increasing projected sales-tax revenue and administration special-projects spending by $250,000 for potential legal expenses, including possible intervention in the Alliant Hub City Wind project. Officials said unused funds would roll into the capital improvement plan. The county administrator also noted that staff had been directed to procure a broker to market the Thomas Street and River Drive properties, in part to help repay the highway-shop interfund loan.

The board approved moving $6,300 for the sheriff’s Flock automated license-plate-reader software and hardware from the sheriff’s budget to the HR Finance Committee contingency, pending further policy and oversight discussions; a separate amendment to remove the amount from the levy failed. The board also approved the sale of a tax-deeded, mold-damaged property to the city for $1, despite objections that it could have greater value. Other actions included approval of an ATV/UTV route ordinance on Highway 34 and changes to medical-examiner fee schedules, including travel charges. No new competitive solicitation or vendor award was identified in the transcript.