Pierce County administration and department heads were able to trim $1.4 million from the proposed 2026 budget, which the county board approved at its Nov. 12 meeting.

The 2026 state limit on operating tax levy is $17,546,495, and the department budgets that standing committees approved totaled $18,950,101, which were collectively $1,403,606 over the state's allowable operating levy.

“Administration has worked closely with each department to close the $1.4 million gap, and we were able to successfully accomplish this through collaboration and teamwork,” County Administrator Jason Matthys wrote in a memo.  

Bigger ticket items that helped trim the budget were opting not to fill a data analyst position in 2026 ($81,558), increasing interest on investment revenue ($150,000), moving the start date of assistant corporation counsel to July 1, so only half the year ($63,426), removing a new truck and tommy gate from the maintenance budget ($61,545), reducing the UW Extension contract services ($70,655), not filling a public health nurse position ($53,054) and applying the fund balance of the $1.4 million to support the 1.25% staff wage increase ($254,452), among small line items.

The total net county levy is $22,307,993, a 4.41% increase from last year. This includes an operating levy of $17,546,495, debt service levy of $3,841,648, county libraries levy of $719,850 and county aid for bridges at $200,000. The mill rate for 2026 has decreased by 2.18%, meaning the county portion of residents’ tax bills should see a slight decrease. The county’s equalized valuation is listed at just over $6 billion, a 6.7% increase over last year.

Effective Jan. 1, 2026, employees (excluding the administrative coordinator and sheriff’s office patrol officers, investigators and jailers) will receive a 1.25% wage increase, according to the Carlson Dettman salary matrix. Supervisor Mike Kahlow said he wishes it could be more.

The board also approved two new positions for 2026: A full-time assistant Corporation Counsel beginning July 1, 2026 ($63,426) and a maintenance technician, also starting July 1, 2026 ($41,923).

A special county board meeting is scheduled for Dec. 1, following the Finance & Personnel Committee meeting, in order to accept an emergency management grant for over $1 million. The time will be determined.

Public comment

Lisa Mueller, representing GrassRoots Organizing Western Wisconsin (GROWW) thanked the board for its thoughtful budget management and asked them to keep in mind the reductions made federally to FoodShare, SNAP, Medicaid and affordable health care programs.

“These are not abstract budget lines, they are real people who add up to budget line items,” Mueller said.

Other business

• The board approved on first reading a resolution to pay municipalities for the listing of dogs, totaling $1,416.50.
• The board voted to cancel outdated 2022 checks totaling $1,722.74. Most of these were fair premiums not cashed by recipients.
• The board voted to use opioid settlement funds as follows:
  • Funding up to $5,000 per year for two years to contract with Peer Support Specialists, which play a critical role in early recovery, connection to treatment, and continued support during the recovery journey, with funds being used to cover peer support for clients who are not supported by other funding sources.
  • Funding up to $5,000 for two years to contract for drug testing male drug court participants.
  • Funding of $56,000 total for up to five years to create and maintain a Sheriff's Office app, which would include information on resources related to overdose prevention and opioid use disorder treatment.
  • Funding of up to $5,800 per year for two years to support Narcan distribution, training and education, starting in 2026.
  • Funding up to $5,000 per year for two years to support Narcan purchases if the federal program is no longer available, starting in 2026.
• The board approved the payment of $6,985 for the care of soldiers’ graves at cemeteries across the county. County Clerk Jamie Feuerhelm said several townships and/or cemeteries did not turn in the state-required paperwork for reimbursement, resulting in a reduction in the claims number.