Marathon County HHS committee directs staff to include homelessness project manager in 2026 budget

The Marathon County Health and Human Services committee voted to include a project management position focused on homelessness coordination in the 2026 county budget. Supervisor Cabeli moved the motion during the committee meeting; the motion was seconded and carried, with two members recorded as voting no.

County Administrator Leonard told the committee the motion would align with task-force recommendations and the county’s intent to adapt the Pathways Home model used in La Crosse. Leonard said the county does not currently have “a position dedicated to that work” and that adding a project manager to the budget would allow staff to “tailor” the La Crosse model to Marathon County and coordinate work with the City of Wausau.

The recommendation came during a larger conversation about 2026 budget assumptions and program fees. Administrator Leonard said Marathon County is finalizing numbers to implement a board-directed wage study, and that pay scales likely “need to move about 10%.” He estimated implementing wage adjustments would increase costs “in the neighborhood of 7.6 to 7.9%” and that a blended rate including health-insurance and other increases could be nearer 10%.

Supervisor Lemmer asked whether a project manager role was still under consideration; Leonard replied that the role was not yet funded but that the committee’s direction would place it in the budget. Supervisor Cabeli then moved to incorporate a homelessness project management position into the 2026 budget; Cabeli framed the motion as funding a position “for homelessness.” After brief discussion, the committee approved the motion; meeting records show two committee members opposed the action.

The committee did not specify a salary or full cost estimate for the position during the meeting. Leonard said staff would build the position into the budget development process and return with implementation details, including how the county would coordinate with the City of Wausau and local partners.

Committee members and staff positioned the motion as an early policy direction to allow planning and budgeting work this fall. The item will be incorporated into the county’s 2026 budget proposal and will next be considered through the usual budget review and county board processes.