With millions of dollars up in the air, Door County officials are tracking what happens in Washington, D.C., and Madison to know what they can count on later this fall. The Door County Board convened earlier this week for a special meeting to discuss the 2026 budget, forming strategies about shared services, capital improvement projects, and more before entering into closed session to discuss its upcoming negotiations with the Door County Deputy Sheriff’s Association. Federal funding was being relied on for projects related to public safety and broadband internet. However, cuts in other areas in recent months have caused Door County Administrator Ken Pabich and others to wonder what is still on the horizon. Coupled with disagreements over the state budget between Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Legislature, Pabich believes there is more uncertainty entering this year’s budget cycle since there is only so much they can do with tax levy limits.

Door County could get more clarity on its November budget passage in the coming weeks. According to The Hill, House Speaker Mike Johnson is working with leaders on a bill to fund portions of President Donald Trump’s agenda, which could include making his 2017 tax cuts permanent, boosting funding for immigration enforcement, and eliminating or reducing other government programs. State legislators recently wrapped up their budget hearings with plans to release their version of the budget in the coming weeks.