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Enough funds to go around: The county is to be the delivery arm of state and federal services. Safe roads and bridges, Meals on Wheels, Veteran Services, the Courts, emergency planning, child protection, birth to 3, and economic support are all mandated services. State and federal governments provide a portion of the funding, and county property tax and sales tax finance the remainder. The County Board allocates how the county taxes are divided among the departments and programs. The closing of services such as hospitals, Treatment Centers, and daytime drop-in centers will add pressure on the county for critical services. State law does not permit the county to increase taxes, except due to growth. Improving economic development can add businesses and jobs increasing the tax base.

Adherence to policy: County supervisors approved and implemented fiscal policies to be used as guidelines. One fiscal policy is regarding county debt. The debt policy requires that debt not exceed 30% of the property tax levy. In 2024, the debt levy is 36% of property tax. For every dollar of county property taxes, 36 cents is used for existing debt. The majority of the debt was a result of two major constructions, the jail and the highway building. However, each year, the county continues to borrow for smaller capital items, which adds to the debt. Borrowing for major building projects is necessary, but the county needs to pause and reconsider the ‘annual borrow’ and look for other solutions and determine if the county saving account could cover those costs.

Economic Development The county, with local partners, needs to promote economic development more aggressively. Attracting new businesses, improving housing, expanding the employment base are all necessary to grow the county. The county is projected to double its senior population (over 65) in the next ten years, and there needs to be a plan to encourage younger individuals to remain in the county to live and to work. Eau Claire County has many features to attract entrepreneurs: a stable work force, favorable housing market, good schools, and excellent cultural and outdoor resources. Attracting new businesses will help the local economy, increase the tax base, and allow the community to have additional funding to provide necessary services.

The county passed the annual budget for 2024 last November. Keeping in mind that the county is the delivery arm of state and federal services, each county department has a set of priorities that are important for secure and predictable county operations. The majority of departments were funded the amount they requested. There were a few departments that requested additional funding. My top priorities for both 2023 and 2024 included additional staffing for the Sheriff’s Department and for Veteran’s Services, staff to reduce the wait-list in Children’s Long Term Care, improvements in the Meals on Wheels kitchen, aggressive maintenance of the county’s roads, and maintenance of the county’s lake districts. Although closure of the hospitals and treatment centers may affect the budget.