At the Oct. 2 Pierce County Finance & Personnel Committee meeting, County Administrator Jason Matthys presented the 2024 budget to members with a solution to fill a deficit of $203,467.

“I think we did a pretty good job as whole … knowing there were going to be some significant gaps,” Matthys said. “We saved a quarter million dollars by not adding new positions in 2024.”

Matthys said Wisconsin Act 12 helped the county and other municipalities significantly with their upcoming budgets, instead of always being asked to do more with less.

“There has been a significant amount of money that has been reappropriated to counties and municipalities going forward,” Matthys said.

The 2023-25 state biennial budget provides a $275 million boost in state aid to localities by funding the supplemental county and municipal aid program. Act 12 addresses the need for increased shared revenue and funding for local emergency services. This includes a $68 million increase in aid to counties and a $207 million increase for municipalities for fiscal year 2024-25, which is a 36 percent increase.

The 2024 state limit on operating tax levy for Pierce County is $17,120,363. The department budgets that county standing committees have approved total $17,323,830, leaving a gap of $203,467.

Matthys, who credited Finance Director Julie Brickner for finding ways to balance the budget, presented a list of ideas for doing so. They included:

• Reducing health insurance costs by $13,782 in the land management/zoning department (due to a vacancy)
• Reduce the budgeted amount for Leave Liability by $10,000
• Reduce the 2024 appropriation to the Pierce County Historical Association by $1,197
• Increase budgeted amount for gas heat by $18,000
• Delay the replacement of a shared copier in the Annex, saving $5,250
• Increased sales tax revenue based on projected performance by $25,000
• State share revenue: Increased budgeted revenue by $107,738
• Reduce total cost of I Am Responding – Xcel by $1,000
• Increased revenue on interests and dividends ($30,000) and interest on checking ($27,500)

“Sales tax revenue, we have had some very strong months that have been surprising,” Matthys said. “WE attribute that to some low interest rates, shopping at home has been a significant help, and infusion of funds from COVID.”

Supervisor Kris Sampson indicated she wants to keep the money appropriation to Pierce County Historical Association in the budget.

“They do a lot for us and they are not paid,” Sampson said.

Brickner credited the state with the increase in shared revenue for helping the county’s budget.

“To get a bump of over $600,000, that was huge for us,” She said.

Last year, the county had to figure out a way to close a gap of $244,000.

The committee voted to forward to the 2024 tax levy and budget to the full county board, who get a first look at it Oct. 24. The proposed county operating levy stands at $17,120,363; debt service would be $3,220,213; county library allocation would be $576,843; and county aid for bridges would round it out at $200,000, for a total 2024 budget of $21,117,419, a 2.987% increase from last year. However, the county’s equalized valuation increased from $4,597,811,400 last year to $5,422,398,100 this year, resulting in a lower mil rate for the county portion of property tax bills.

New positions

The committee voiced approval for the following new positions in 2024, all of which would be funded by outside sources.

• Human services CCS manager, annual salary of $125,011, funded by Medicaid
• Human Services CCS social worker/case manager, annual salary of $95,676, funded by Medicaid
• Human Services CCS social worker/case manager, start date July 1, 2024, $49,575, funded by Medicaid
• Human Services co-responder/drug tester, $90,322, potentially funded by opioid settlement or ARPA funds
• Human Services in-home mental health therapist, annual salary of $116,329, funded by grants and billed revenue
• Public Health birth to 3 therapist, annual salary of $104,048, funded by grants and billed revenue
• Public Health birth to 3 therapist, annual salary of $104,048, funded by grants and billed revenue

Wages

The committee approved a 1.25% cost-of-living wage increase for all employees, plus step increases. Employee contribution to health insurance is increasing by 15%.