MARINETTE – The Marinette County Board of Supervisors held a special meeting on Oct. 20, which was followed by a regular meeting on Oct. 27. These meetings surrounded a variety of financial topics, including the 2027 county budget and property taxes, as well as personnel decisions, like the new county administrator.

In a 28-2 vote at the Oct. 27 meeting, the board approved the 2027 county budget. The plan set a county operating tax levy of $17,622,166. For property owners, this comes out to an around $2.30 per $1,000 of equalized value.

The county’s overall equalized valuation — the estimated value of all taxable real property — reached $7,653,361,200.

In other financial updates, supervisors failed to pass an initial resolution authorizing a loan of up to $9 million meant for projects in the county’s five-year capital improvement plan.

While the motion received 22 votes in favor and 8 opposed, Wisconsin state statutes require a three fourths majority when issuing debt. The required majority was 23 members, which meant the motion fell short by one vote.

The board then moved on to road infrastructure funding and an April referendum.

In order to address highway funding following the failed borrowing resolution, the board approved a budget amendment transferring $1,442,266 into county road maintenance and construction. This amount includes $375,000 from the property tax reduction fund balance and $1,067,266 from the general fund balance.

Additionally, supervisors also voted 20-10 to create a resolution for a public referendum on the April 6, 2027, ballot. This referendum will ask voters to allow exceeding the county’s tax levy limit to finance future road construction projects.

Continuing with financial items, the board made several additional budget revisions.

A $65,294 reduction was made to the sheriff’s department budget. Specific reductions and cuts will be left up to the sheriff. However, emergency dispatch received $51,021 for equipment maintenance and $56,717 to upgrade the central dispatch recording system and software.

The board allocated $14,171 in public transit funding for the City of Marinette’s specialized transit purchase of service.

Finally, an amendment that proposed transferring $50,000 from general fund reserves to the county library fund failed in a 5-25 vote.

County administrator transition

The board finalized executive leadership changes, unanimously confirming Brian Chapman as county administrator effective Nov. 2.

Chapman replaces outgoing Administrator Kevin Solway following an executive search conducted with assistance from Public Administration Associates LLC. The board subsequently approved an agreement with consultant John Lefebvre to provide transitional training for Chapman.

Supervisor Bob Hoyer thanked the department heads for their input and help during the administrator recruitment process. The board thanked Solway for his work.

Additional board actions

County parcel No. 251-02013.000 was sold to T. Spell Development Group LLC for $65,000 to secure a parking site for the planned Gateway Commons of Marinette, a planned 60-unit workforce housing development.

Care agreements were approved with Servant Manor for $69,300 at the Trotter House Group Home and Lad Lake Inc. for $74,261 at the St. Rose Center for youth placement contracts.

The board also authorized a $197,398 property, vehicle and equipment insurance agreement with McClone and passed Ordinance No. 476-26 updating county procedures regarding tax-delinquent property sales and proceeds.