City Administrator Steve Barker told a council preview that the state of Wisconsin will return $355,000 to the city tied to a chargeback from a Marshfield Clinic tax-abatement agreement.

The money arrived after the city and Marshfield Clinic reached an unusual compromise on a tax abatement, Barker said, and state treatment of the arrangement produced the refund. "At the end of the day, they treated it the way we hoped that they would and they're giving us a refund of $355,000, for a chargeback," Barker said.

The council will review the additional revenue at a special budget meeting prior to the next regular council meeting. Barker said Finance Director Jennifer Celinski will present alternatives: restore some items that had been cut from the proposed 2026 budget, fund the community development director position, or place the funds in contingency for study in early 2026. "It's a good problem to have," Barker said, adding the city will be "thoughtful" and "prudent" about spending.

Barker linked the discussion to the capital improvement plan (CIP): several budget expenditures depend on the finalized 2026–2030 CIP, which the council will be asked to approve alongside the budget. He said the CIP has seen few changes since the July draft but contains items that tie directly to operating and capital spending decisions.

Barker also noted that the council has a public hearing on the budget scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 6 p.m., when the council will receive public comment and may vote on adjustments at the end of the meeting.

No formal council decisions were recorded in the preview; the actions Barker described were scheduled for forthcoming meetings where the council will consider the use of the refunded amount and final CIP approval.