Marinette County seeks to increase its annual property tax revenues by $1.5 million in a referendum on the ballot for Tuesday, April 7.

If approved, the levy would result in an estimated property tax increase of $20 per $100,000 of equalized assessed property value, according to the Marinette County Board.

The current tax limits set by state law have put essential public safety services at risk, the board states in a Nov. 6 resolution calling for the referendum.

The 2026 levy is capped at $17.65 million, which is an increase of 1.494%. The referendum seeks to raise the 2027 levy by 8.5%, which results in a levy of $19.15 million. This increased levy would also be permitted going forward.

“The legislature implemented levy limits several years ago, and every year we have been having to make up our shortages by eliminating services that are non-essential,” County Administrator Kevin Solway told the Marinette Eagle-Herald. “We have eliminated about 30 employees over the last three years and it continues.”

The ballot language states the increased levy is “for the purpose of maintaining existing levels of service” for public safety, including law enforcement, jail, courts, district attorney’s office, family court commissioner, 911 dispatch, child support, emergency management and medical examiner.

Portions of the county board’s resolution providing a notice of the referendum follow:

WHEREAS, pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 66.0602(4), a county may only exceed the levy limits established by state law through approval by referendum; and

WHEREAS, the Public Safety departments — including Law Enforcement, Jail, Courts, District Attorney’s Office, Family Court Commissioner; 911 Dispatch, Child Support, Emergency Management and Medical Examiner — are experiencing rapidly increasing demands and rising operational costs in nearly every area of service; and

WHEREAS, the need to establish a security screening checkpoint at the County Judicial Center required reassigning a road patrol deputy, reducing the number of deputies available to patrol Marinette County roads; and

WHEREAS, public safety risks are increasing significantly. In 2025 alone, the county has seen:

• 22.72% increase in vehicle crashes

• 100% increase in fatal crashes

• 200% increase in fatal overdoses compared with 2024.

Additionally, in 2024 compared to 2023:

• Methamphetamine seizures rose 74.64%

• Fentanyl seizures increased by 53.07%

• Cocaine/crack seizures rose 66.32%

These trends clearly show the escalating threat posed by drugs and dangerous driving in our communities; and

WHEREAS, to effectively patrol the County, deter crime, respond to emergencies, and support other law enforcement agencies, the Marinette County Sheriff’s Office must maintain — or increase — staffing levels, not reduce them; and

WHEREAS, the cost to operate the jail facility-along with growing expenses for inmate medical care, meals, transport, staff recruitment, and training-continue to rise significantly each year; and

WHEREAS, the Medical Examiner’s Office faces increasing costs for timely and medically accurate death investigations, including expenses related to lab testing, pathology, protective equipment, digital systems, and maintaining qualified staff; and

WHEREAS, the current funding for the Medical Examiner’s Office is barely sufficient to keep up with demand, threatening potential delays in investigations and negatively impacting criminal and civil court processes; and

WHEREAS, recent changes to the federal Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) have shifted more financial responsibility to the county, increasing the cost of maintaining emergency preparedness and disaster response; and

WHEREAS, felony cases handled by the Marinette County District Attorney’s Office have risen dramatically — from 255 felony filings in 2018 to 406 in 2024 — putting significant pressure on existing staff; and

WHEREAS, Wisconsin law 978.13(2)(b) requires counties to adequately fund operational costs for the District Attorney’s Office, including support staff, to ensure the office can fulfill its legal responsibilities; and

WHEREAS, under current levy limits, Marinette County cannot increase staffing or funding for the District Attorney’s Office to meet this growing need, putting the justice system under strain; and

WHEREAS, Marinette County Dispatch is the central 911 answering point for all emergency and nonemergency calls, serving residents and visitors 24/7/365, and is facing equipment challenges. While new systems have been installed, critical infrastructure such as generators and HVAC systems are aging and need urgent replacement to protect vital communication functions; and

WHEREAS, the County’s current levy limit does not allow for the necessary investment in rising public safety costs across all departments; and

WHEREAS, the increase would result in an estimated property tax increase of $20 per $100,000 of equalized assessed property value, meaning:

• A home and/or property valued at $100,000 would see an approximate increase of $20 per year

• A home and/or property valued at $200,000 would see an approximate increase of $40 per year

• A home and/or property valued at $300,000 would see an approximate increase of $60 per year

WHEREAS, this levy increase would be ongoing, with $1,500,000 added to the County’s levy base each year going forward to ensure support for essential public safety services.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Marinette County Board of Supervisors endorses and approves the following county-wide referendum as part of the April 7, 2026, election:

Under state law, the increase in the levy of the County of Marinette for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2026, is limited to 1.494%, which results in a levy of $17,646,322. Shall the County of Marinette be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2027, for the purpose of maintaining existing levels of service for Public Safety including Law Enforcement, Jail, Courts, District Attorney’s Office, Family Court Commissioner; 911 Dispatch, Child Support, Emergency Management and Medical Examiner, by a total of 8.500%, which results in a levy of $19,146,322, and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $1,500,000 for each fiscal year going forward?