_09102026-1713

Price County Executive Committee Meeting Minutes Date: September 10, 2026 Time: 9:00 a.m. Place: Courthouse County Board Room 101; 126 Cherry St; Phillips, WI 54555 Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Brian Ernst, Committee Chairperson. Roll Call Members Present: Michelle Drobnik, Brian Ernst, Paula Houdek, Larry Palecek, Jordan Spacek Also Present: Sylvia Kerner, Register of Deeds; Carrie Kyle, County Finance Director; Renee Leinfelder, County Treasurer; Nick Trimner, County Administrator Items For Discussion and Possible Action 1. Public Comment and Communications: Walt Madsen of Phillips commented publicly on a non- agenda item. 2. Meeting Minutes August 13, 2026: Motion Drobnik/Houdek to approve the August 13, 2026, meeting minutes. Motion carried. 3. Treasurer Report a. Monthly reports: The Treasurer’s financial reports were presented, reviewed, and they are on file. The Price County Treasurer Report for Revenues and Disbursements showed total August revenue receipts were $3,784,903.47. Total August disbursements were $10,186,281.11. The Financial Report for the month ending in August was presented and is on file. It displayed $5,674,081.62 in total investments; $1,751,759.84 total ending checking balance; $7,425,841.46 total cash available; and $3,528,850.00 totals debt in loans. Discussion on the timeline for utilizing cash for projects , timing for the County reimburs ing itself for projects, and other topics which may be discussion items for next year. b. Delinquent Taxes and In Rem – 2022 Tax Year: On August 18th there was court for 15 In Rem parcels. 2022 delinquent taxes may be paid before the Land Sale Auction begins in September, and one paid, so they are down to 14 parcels. 4. Register of Deeds Office a. Updates: The past three months have been the busiest of the year so far in the Register of Deeds (ROD) Office. The Deputy is currently on maternity leave through Thanksgiving. In August, the ROD recorded 353 documents; processed 59 vital records applications; and i ssued 207 vital record certificates. New plat books are available in the office for $40 and there is a link for the online version. 5. Office of Administration a. 2026 Monthly Financial Reports: The 2026 Monthly Financial Reports were presented and are on file. 67% of the year has passed. The General Fund shows ($391,695) in Net Gain/(Loss) Versus Budget for August. Health and Human Services shows $101,654 in Net Gain/(Loss) Versus Budget for August. Other Funds for August show $2,061,529 Net Gain/(Loss) Verses Budget for Animal Control, Veterans Services, Library Services, Airport, State Forestry, Highway, Health Insurance, Debt Levy, Capital Improvement, Capital Projects, and special Revenues. Price County Cash shows $7,425,841 for August 2026, down 25% from 2025. Price County Sales Tax shows $662,212 in Year -to-Date Sales Tax Distributions for June 2026, 2.7% more than in 2025. Price County Stumpage Sales were $672,416 for August 2026, down 39.6% from 2025. High-Cost Placements Children and Youth were $ 496,830 for July 2026, up 24.1% from 2025. High-Cost Placements-AODA were $227,697 for July 2026, up 9.3% in costs from 2025. Health Insurance for 2026 shows a fund balance deficit of ($42,893) after August 2026. b. Updates: The Wisconsin Counties Association Annual Fall Conference begins in two weeks. Researching voluntary benefits with Allstate. The County saves money by moving to one product line and managing insurance digitally. 6. Clerk’s Office a. Updates: The Clerk’s Office is busy reconciling the Partisan Primary Election into WisVote. Election training for election inspectors will be held on October 23rd. 7. 2027 Budget a. Debt: The First Draft 2027 Budget was presented and is on file. Pages one and two entitled “2027 Budget Reconciliation” was examined as follows: 2026 Maximum Operational Tax Levy, $7,947,166; 2026 Operational Tax Levy Variance – Over/(Under), no amount reported; 2026 Total Tax Levy, $13,734,138; Change in Total Tax Levy Year -Over-Year, $168,629; % Change of Total Tax Levy Increase, 1.24%; Change in Equalized Value Year -to-Year, $132,333,500; Total Chan ge in Mill Rate, ( 0.209). Discussion on t he County ’s operational budget for 2027 potentially over by $.5 million, and the Committee discussed the suggested option for balancing which was borrowing for insurances which will need a ¾ vote County Board approval . Other options are cuts that the board would have to approve. b. 2027 Library Reimbursement Budgeted Percen t: Discussion held on choosing between 70% and 80% for library reimbursement in 2027. Reference to the First Draft of the 2027 Budget, Appendix E: 2026 Library Services Levy Paid in 2027. Park Falls Library Director Jody Eckert and Phillips Library Director Becky Puhl spoke on this agenda item and answered questions from Committee members. The Committee recommends 80% library reimbursement, which will be presented to the County Board. c. Highway Equipment, Facilities and Projects Funding: The Highway requested $500,000 for Yellow Equipment in 2027 on Appendix D2, Price County Highway Department 2027-2032 Yellow Equipment Fund in the First Draft 2027 Budget. d. Non-Profit & Community Partners : Appendix B, entitled 2027 Non- Profit & Community Partners, was presented at a total of $72,750. The Committee recommends leaving Appendix B amounts as is. e. Capital Purchases Projects: Discussion held on Appendices C, D, D1, and D2 in the First Draft of the 2027 Budget. Appendix D shows capital purchases and projects by funding source. The Committee recommends increasing the debt levy to $500,000. At the next meeting, the Committee is looking at prioritizing projects from the list on Appendices D, D1, and D2, up to $500,000. 8. Resolution - Price County Capital Projects and Capital Purchases to be Financed with Short- Term Debt 2027 (Executive): Motion Palecek/Houdek to approve the resolution Price County Capital Projects and Capital Purchases to be Financed with Short -Term Debt 2027 and send it to the Price County Board of Supervisors for consideration. Discussion held. Motion carried. 9. Resolution - Approve Transfer to Offset Budget Overages 2026 (Executive): Motion Spacek/Drobnik to approve the resolution Approve Transfer to Offset Budget Overages 2026 send it to the Price County Board of Supervisors for consideration. Discussion held. Motion carried. 10. Resolution - Transfer to Capital Improvement Fund 2025 (Executive): Motion Drobnik/Spacek the resolution Transfer to Capital Improvement Fund 2025 and send it to the Price County Board of Supervisors for consideration. Discussion held. Struck from line 22: “leaving a net loss of $483,066.” Motion carried. 11. Resolution - Price County Highway Department Road Construction Projects to be Financed with Short-Term Debt 2027 (Executive) Motion Palecek/Spacek to approve the resolution Price County Highway Department Road Construction Projects to be Financed with Short-Term Debt 2027 and send it to the Price County Board of Supervisors for consideration. Motion carried. 12. Update Law Enforcement Radio Equipment/Technology Project: TUSA Consulting Services will be in Price County the week of August 28 th. The Law Enforcement meeting will take place on August 29 th, and TUSA Consulting Services will be in attendance to discuss board expectations for the project. A meeting at 10:00 a.m. for key stakeholders will follow, including schools, EMS, l aw enforcement, hospitals and more. 13. Bug Tussel Update: Slow and steady, Price County has requested out, no payments and no signatures on anything. We have not received any communication. The next step may be a letter or resolution stating that Price County has concluded. We have collected $92,000 in payments so far from Bug Tussel. 14. Monthly Vouchers: Motion Houdek/Drobnik to approve the August 2026 Executive Committee vouchers in the amount of $5,557,241.04. Discussion held. Motion carried. 15. Date of Next Meeting: October 8, 2026 16. Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m. by Brain Ernst, Committee Chairperson. Respectfully Submitted by Meredith Hueckman, County Clerk