County board adopts fixed funding formula for Weiss and Winter libraries

The Sawyer County Board adopted a resolution to set a predictable county funding formula for the Weiss and Winter libraries. The proposal would set annual county support as the greater of: 150% of the previous year’s circulation-based formula amount, or 102% of the previous year’s county contribution.

Sponsor Markman told the board the formula is intended to remove contentious budget-time negotiations and provide the libraries with a known support level. "It would give them an amount they can count on," he said, and reported that both library representatives present expressed support for the approach.

Board discussion noted one risk: unusual circulation years—such as the pandemic-era spike—could produce a large single-year increase if historic data are used. A board member said that had the formula been in place earlier it could have produced a different multi-year distribution but that the policy smooths expectations going forward. A motion to approve the Weiss and Winter Library support resolution was seconded and passed by voice vote.

The resolution passed without recorded negative votes; no changes to county appropriation levels beyond the formula were recorded in the meeting minutes.