County board OKs 2025 budget, levy

Supervisors urged to review revenue streams in future years
By: 
Kevin Passon
Editor-in-Chief

Shawano County property taxes will increase 9 cents per $1,000 of assessed value (2.38%) in 2025, based on the budget and levy approved by the county board on Oct. 23.

Jim Davel, administrative coordinator for the county, pointed out to supervisors that while the mill rate will increase in 2025, it has decreased each of the last four years.

“We have seen that mil rate consistently decline in the last four years. Essentially, that has to do with the overall calculation in how you arrive at your mill rate,” said Carrie Buntjer, finance director. “The denominator in your equation is your equalized value, so we’ve all seen the value of our properties, the value of everything, has been increasing significantly over the last few years. When you increase the denominator in your equation, you’re going to see your mill rate come down.”

New jobs in the 2025 budget include an additional correctional officer, dispatcher and technology services staff member. Also, the real property lister job will move to full-time status.

The county will borrow $2 million to pay for road projects. A short-term loan will be take out in December and paid off in mid-January. Interest for the county will be about $9,000.

“When we borrow money, the principal and interest payments that we make on that debt can be levied in the year that we’re making those payments,” Buntjer said.

Other highlights of the $76.5 million budget are the capital improvement projects plan of about $2.9 million and health insurance that costs the county about $7 million a year.

Davel said the county normally estimates a 10% increase in insurance premiums. In 2025, negotiations whittled the increase down to 6.55%.

“In the future, we’ll take a look at some things of how we can mitigate those costs,” he said. “I’m very concerned about next year. I’ve seen some reports come in that next year, the health insurance industry is going to jack up prices significantly.”

Davel said significant cost increases have also been witnessed in mental health costs provided by the Department of Human Services and food costs at the jail.

Buntjer said state limits allow for a levy of about $20 million. The gross county tax levy will include $16.5 million for general county operations, $3.4 million for debt service, $120,884 for bridge aid, $1,187.50 for state special charges and $247.92 for property taxes charged back.

The budget process begins as early as April, and Davel warned supervisors they will need to make some hard decisions for 2026 and beyond.

“We need to take a look at our revenues that come into the county … because of the cost increases across the board,” he said. “We can’t be all things to everybody. We struggle right now to maintain what we have. We’re doing a lot less with less. The levy limits really restrict us going forward.”

He suggested supervisors consider revenue options such as a wheel tax and the fee structures at all departments to ensure the fees pay for the staff time and other expenses.

The Wisconsin registration fee for cars, trucks and SUVs is $85. Starting Jan. 1, 2025, city of Shawano residents will have to pay a $40 per vehicle wheel tax.

He suggested possibly making the parks department a levy-free operation.

“Parks is one of our few departments that generates revenue, significant revenue,” he said. “We should take a look at that and say, ‘What do we need to do to get off of levy and provide services to our community?’”

County Board Chairman Tom Kautza said committees should not leave any stone unturned when it comes to increasing revenue or cutting costs.

“Everybody’s got to look at … the whole picture and think outside the box and try new things,” he said.

He is proposing the county move toward a self-funded insurance program for employees.

While Shawano County’s premium will increase 6.55% next year, Marinette County, which became self-insured several years ago, will see a decrease in premiums next year, Kautza said.

“Waupaca County is self-insured,” he added. “Their increases are small compared to what we pay to private ones.

“It’s a big change. It takes a big investment from the county and a lot of risk for the first few years, but everything has proven to be very profitable for them by doing that move.”

kpasson@newmedia-wi.com