The Pierce County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 22 gave second-reading approval to a resolution to increase Act 150 funding for in-county libraries to 90 percent.

Supervisors rejected an amendment to hold funding at the current 85 percent level.

The resolution holds Act 420 funding for out-of-county libraries at 70 percent. The Act 150 and 420 funding levels were approved for 2025 and future years.

The board approved the resolution on a 14–3 vote and rejected, on a 13–4 vote, Supervisor Mel Pittman’s amendment to hold the Act 150 funding level at 85 percent.

Pittman said constituents have told him they are “really concerned about property taxes going up.” He added, “I look at libraries as not exactly necessary,” but as services that enhance the community. Pittman suggested libraries do more fundraising.

Supervisor Ruth Wood said libraries provide broadband access to people who don’t have the service at home. “It is very much needed by the populace in general,” Wood said.

“As a poor kid in a small town, the library was my lifeline,” Supervisor Michael Kahlow said.

Supervisor Dean Bergseng noted that Extension services would be reduced $78,659 as part of a $753,933 list of cost cuts and revenue increases the Finance and Personnel Committee recommended for meeting the 2025 state levy limit.

“Maybe the libraries could give up a little bit too,” Bergseng said.

Under the resolution, as approved by the Finance and Personnel Committee, libraries in Ellsworth, Elmwood, Plum City, Prescott, River Falls and Spring Valley will receive $665,531 of Act 150 funding in 2025, up 21.8 percent from the previous year. Six out-of-county libraries used by Pierce County residents will receive $29,230, a 4.1 percent reduction from the 2024 level.

Under state law, Pierce County is obligated to pay in-county and out-of-county public libraries for services provided to Pierce County residents.

In other action, the board considered on first reading a 2025 property tax levy totaling $21,366,313 for the 2025 budget that was recommended Oct. 7 by the Finance and Personnel Committee. The proposed levy includes four components: $17,256,364 for operations, $3,215,188 for debt service, $694,761 for county library and $200,000 for county aid bridges.

To meet the 2025 state levy limit of $17,256,364, the Finance and Personnel Committee approved $668,586 in cost cuts and $85,347 in revenue increases. The increases include $32,347 in additional funds the state has distributed to local governments in the shared revenue program update the Wisconsin Legislature approved in 2023.

Cost cuts include a $65,377 reduction in the county’s contract with Securitas and $46,000 in security funding. County Administrative Coordinator Jason Matthys said the reductions assume the board will approve overhauling the security system for which the county has requested proposals. Matthys said the current system has outdated equipment and needs continuing fixes.

The closure of Health Sisters Health Systems hospitals in Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire earlier this year has driven up county health services costs, Matthys said. The closures have “really hamstrung the northwestern region’s ability to have short and quick access to health services, especially emergency mental health services,” Matthys said.

In a related matter, Matthys said the Finance and Personnel Committee has approved creation of a capital equipment and improvements account, which he said would enable the county to “better prioritize and forecast” equipment needs. The 2025 budget includes $789,884 in capital spending supported by the property tax levy, according to a memo he submitted to the board.