Sawyer County board approves 2027 budget timeline and parameters after routine finance update
June 12, 2026 | Sawyer County, Wisconsin
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The Sawyer County board approved a 2027 budget timeline and a set of budget parameters on motions during its meeting, after receiving a routine finance update showing sales tax growth and mixed department results.
The county clerk reported that “sales tax for May was 237” (the transcript does not specify units) and said the county is on track to finish about 12% ahead of last year, noting May receipts typically reflect activity from two months earlier. The clerk also summarized the end-of-May budget performance, saying overall revenues and expenses are tracking toward about 42% of the fiscal year; revenues are slightly behind an aggressively set budget while expenses remain at or below expected levels.
The clerk identified several department variances: Criminal Justice (department 04) was shown at about 6% as its first-quarter reimbursement had not yet been submitted; the District Attorney’s reimbursements were low (about 1%) pending a first-quarter claim due at the end of June; Forestry stood ahead at roughly 73% because a full-year grant had already arrived; and ambulance revenues were lagging due to the timing of claims and a recent change in software. When a board member asked whether ambulance billing was stabilizing, the clerk said the billing vendor was providing useful data and that an assistant, Miranda, had helped reduce submission delays tied to missing paperwork.
Items D and E on the agenda (the 2027 budget timeline and the 2027 budget parameters) were both recorded as action items. The transcript records a motion to approve the 2027 budget timeline (moved by a member identified as Kiana, seconded by Mark Hellwig), which carried as recorded. The board later approved the 2027 budget parameters on a motion by Mark Hellwig, seconded by Jeff Haney.
The clerk also reviewed smaller departmental reports: the Airport’s revenues were about 4% for the year, with recent snow removal and repair costs inflating expenses; UW Extension reimbursement to the county had not yet been received but was expected before year-end under the county’s contract; and a CD maturing for reinvestment was put to bid (see separate coverage of the CD decision). The clerk said the county audit work had started this week.
The board set its next meeting for July 9 at 8:30 a.m. and discussed registration deadlines for the Wisconsin Counties Association conference.
The meeting adjourned with no further formal business recorded.
The county clerk reported that “sales tax for May was 237” (the transcript does not specify units) and said the county is on track to finish about 12% ahead of last year, noting May receipts typically reflect activity from two months earlier. The clerk also summarized the end-of-May budget performance, saying overall revenues and expenses are tracking toward about 42% of the fiscal year; revenues are slightly behind an aggressively set budget while expenses remain at or below expected levels.
The clerk identified several department variances: Criminal Justice (department 04) was shown at about 6% as its first-quarter reimbursement had not yet been submitted; the District Attorney’s reimbursements were low (about 1%) pending a first-quarter claim due at the end of June; Forestry stood ahead at roughly 73% because a full-year grant had already arrived; and ambulance revenues were lagging due to the timing of claims and a recent change in software. When a board member asked whether ambulance billing was stabilizing, the clerk said the billing vendor was providing useful data and that an assistant, Miranda, had helped reduce submission delays tied to missing paperwork.
Items D and E on the agenda (the 2027 budget timeline and the 2027 budget parameters) were both recorded as action items. The transcript records a motion to approve the 2027 budget timeline (moved by a member identified as Kiana, seconded by Mark Hellwig), which carried as recorded. The board later approved the 2027 budget parameters on a motion by Mark Hellwig, seconded by Jeff Haney.
The clerk also reviewed smaller departmental reports: the Airport’s revenues were about 4% for the year, with recent snow removal and repair costs inflating expenses; UW Extension reimbursement to the county had not yet been received but was expected before year-end under the county’s contract; and a CD maturing for reinvestment was put to bid (see separate coverage of the CD decision). The clerk said the county audit work had started this week.
The board set its next meeting for July 9 at 8:30 a.m. and discussed registration deadlines for the Wisconsin Counties Association conference.
The meeting adjourned with no further formal business recorded.
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