Shawano County supervisors are expected to vote Oct. 22 on whether to approve a 2026 budget that will total $76.55 million.
The monthly board meeting will begin at 3 p.m. in the County Board Room at the Shawano County Courthouse.
For the first time in several years, the tax rate will see an increase. In 2026, it will change from $3.89 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to $3.98, an increase of 2.38%.
In 2019, the rate was $5.08.
The tax rate declined in the last several years due to a relatively flat tax levy and increasing equalized values.
Equalized value continued to rise again, up $404.47 million or 8.75% to $5.03 billion.
State law limits the county operating tax levy to either 0% or the net increase in countywide new construction value, whichever is greater. Net new construction was $264,370 toward annual operations.
The 2026 tax levy will total $20,027,370 with the remainder of revenues coming from state and federal funds and service fees.
Departments with the most expenses are the highway department including county roads and bridges at $20.5 million, human services at $15.18 million and the sheriff’s department at $8.78 million.
Departments requesting the most tax levy dollars are the sheriff’s department at $7.28 million, the jail at $4.93 million, and county roads and bridges at $3.31 million.
Debt service will increase due to short-term borrowing of $2 million to fund part of the 2025 capital improvement projects that include $1.8 million for highway paving and $1.18 million for road and bridge construction.
County sales tax revenue for 2025 is projected at $4.15 million.
State shared revenue will total $2.12 million with $689,048 of supplemental aid given directly to sheriff’s department budget.
“As we transition to the budget of 2026, we must have a strategic financial plan that sets the financial conditions for success,” Administrative Coordinator Jim Davel said in his comments in the budget book.
While strategic planning is important, it is most effective to start with the question of why, he said.
“We must be willing to change our focus and ask difficult questions: Why are we doing this?” Davel said. “Priority-based budgeting is not a budgeting tool, but a road map to culture change: finding creative solutions to generate revenue and save money. It is a willingness to reorganize for efficiency, and a quality versus quantity mentality.”
The county employs 403 full-time equivalent employees and operates 31 departments.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
