County staff recommended that Marathon County participate in a class-action settlement involving Discover Financial Services covering transactions from Jan. 2007 through Dec. 2023. Staff described the mechanics in the memo and recommended filing claims to collect settlement funds that would be payable to eligible county departments.

Treasury or finance staff told the committees the county's minimum share in the presented example was $10 per eligible claimant and that the county may be able to aggregate claims across departments (for example, the Register of Deeds and other departments that accepted Discover). Staff cautioned that if total claim filings reach a large aggregate (for instance, $50 million in claims to the settlement administrator) the per-claim amount could be reduced pro rata.

Committee members said there was little downside to filing a claim; a motion to participate was moved and seconded and both committees approved the recommendation unanimously. Staff said the county will complete the claims paperwork and return any recovered funds to the appropriate departmental budgets.