Walcisak also noted that of ….

Walcisak also noted that of all the county departments, the forestry department is the only one to generate revenues far in excess of its operating costs.

“For every $0.24 in expenses, the forestry department generated $1 in revenue,” Walcisak said. He said in 2021, the forest department generated $700,000 in revenue from logging with $68,900 going to the towns of Rib Lake, and Westboro and $430,000 going into the general fund.

According to Walcisak, just maintaining the amount of forest output, which the county is required to do under the state county forest laws, would take 1.35 FTEs.

“This change would result in an immediate reduction in forestry related work accomplishments by at least 25%,” Walcisak said. Putting this into numbers, he estimated it would be a loss of timber sale revenue of $113,000 to $315,000 while also significantly impacting local loggers and truck drivers as they would have to travel further for work.

“The projected loss in timber revenue alone far exceeds any potential cost savings in cutting the Taylor County Forest to one staff and would significantly impact the county general fund,” Walcisak said.

Beyond the potential loss in logging revenues, he said reducing the staff in the office would eliminate being able to work with ATV, snowmobile and other groups to secure grants. He noted the department currently has 25 active grants totaling $950,000. He said in 2021, the office closed out $464,000 in recreation-related grants.

Walcisak also addressed the statement that the office was over-staffed given the comparative small size of the county forest in relation to others in the state. He said between himself and assistant forest administrator Jordan Lutz, they manage 11,550 acres per FTE based on state statistics. “This is higher than average of all counties managing between 1,940 and 80,000 acres. Taylor County is not overstaffed,” Walcisak said.

Walcisak also noted that the department recently won the Wisconsin Forest Productivity Award making it the fifth year in a row the county has won the award. He noted that while Vilas County has won it four times, Taylor County is the only one to have won it this many times consecutively.

“Attempting to make the most productive forest in the state more productive by implementing an unproven business model places undue risk on Taylor County and the taxpayers,” Walcisak said refuting the suggesting that the county could get the work done by hiring a consulting forester.

Lutz noted that he helped Walcisak prepare the multi-page report on the department’s activities and impact that Walcisak read at the meeting. He said that while he understands the financial needs of the county, he said it would impact his livelihood and his children. “It is hard not to take that stuff personally,” he said.

In addition to the committee members, several other county board members and audience members were at the meeting. Committee chairman Scott Mildbrand opened the floor for comments reminding everyone to remain civil. “Budget is an extremely tough time of the year,” he said, noting that tempers can flair, but asking everyone to remain respectful.

County board member Greg Knight questioned the rationale for cutting the department from two people to one person. He noted that while he is new to the county board, he spent 38 years working in natural resources. He praised the county’s forestry staff for their professionalism and reputation within the industry.

“I think there are serious, damaging repercussions to the department,” Knight said of the proposed cuts and again noted that the department has been a consistent money-maker for the county. He also noted that the mixed -hardwood make-up of the county forest requires more work to manage than other forest types. He said it takes a skill to learn how to manage a forest of this type that comes with experience. “You are throwing away that experience,” Knight said.

DNR Forest Team Leader Jill Nemick also spoke in support of the current staff. She noted that she had no jurisdiction in how the county structures the department, but said it was important to remember not to violate forest operations laid out in Chapter 28 of the state statutes.

“This is your guiding document on how county forests are run,” she said. She noted that administration and paperwork can keep the administrator office-bound and there is a need to have someone out in the field. She said hiring a consultant as needed risks losing continuity of a person who knows the forest.

County board member Mike Bub also questioned the need to cut a position. He said when he first got on the county board he was placed on the forestry committee and that his knowledge of trees was that some had leaves and some were evergreens.

However, he said what he did find out was how much the county relies on forest revenue to balance the budget. “Do you want to put our finances at risk?” he asked.

Bub also noted that in addition to managing the forest for today, the staff is looking out for the county’s future, citing the recent planting of a red pine plantation. “They are planning, not for today, not for tomorrow, but for 30 years from now,” Bub said, urging caution that they will hurt the county in the long term.

Bub suggested there were other places in the budget where cuts could be made noting that according to the Wisconsin County’s Association, the county is in the top 35% of spending in human services while the population is in the bottom 30% with similar statistics for the highway department.

“Let’s look at highway, let’s look at human services,

“I think it is short sighted and irresponsible.”

— County Board member Mike Bub