On Monday, Nov. 10, the La Crosse County Board overwhelmingly approved the $209 million 2026 budget, funding 27 County departments that perform critical work to keep our communities strong. The largest portion of the budget—nearly half of every dollar—goes to people: wages and benefits for over 1,000 County employees.

Our employees:

--Support children and families accessing care, food, and services

--Plow 200+ miles of County highways each winter

--Protect and assist older adults through long-term care and other programs

--Support individuals experiencing mental health and substance use challenges

--Work with farmers, veterans, and small businesses to access funding and resources

--Provide public safety and respond to all 911 calls across the county

Some highlights in the 2026 budget include:

--$689,000 in settlement and grant funds for the first year of our Opioid Response Plan

--$100,000 for a new bike trail connecting Goose Island to La Crosse

--$250,000 for our Climate Action Plan

--Beginning the implementation of a County wage study

--Adding a grant-funded re-entry social worker to reduce recidivism

--Up to $150,000 to help families at risk of homelessness

--$13.9 million to pave 11 miles of County roads

--Adding a Sheriff’s deputy focused on the Town of Shelby

The 2026 budget is balanced, with just 18% of revenue from property taxes. The property tax levy will increase by about 2%, while the overall tax rate and County debt continue to decline.

You can view a budget summary here, the public hearing presentation here, or the full budget here. To stay up to date on County news, subscribe to our newsletter here.