Committee adopts Planning and Development budget; discusses building inspection RFP, vehicle purchase and South Pike bond

The Kenosha County Planning and Development Committee on Oct. 15 adopted its 2026 Planning and Development budget and reviewed several program and capital items that could affect fees, contracts and future levy levels.

Chris Walton, finance, public works, who presented the budget, told the committee that some personnel and allocation changes were bookkeeping adjustments, including returning the senior administrative assistant position to Planning and Development so the position reports to that department. Walton said a veteran employee retired, which lowered salary costs for the department compared with a fully tenured incumbent.

Contracted services received the most attention. Walton said the jump in contracted-services spending in recent years is largely attributable to building inspection work and related contracts with municipalities. "We are going out to RFP for the building inspection services," Walton said, and the department expects to have a clearer picture after the request-for-proposals process and discussions with the Village of Salem Lakes. Walton told the committee he expects a resolution on fee changes in the first quarter of next year once the RFP results are known.

Committee members asked whether the county has control over the fee structure used to calculate contractor revenue. Walton explained that building inspectors are paid a percentage of permit fees, which means the county must set fee levels to provide anticipated contractor revenue and to make contracting arrangements workable.

The committee reviewed several capital items. Staff confirmed that a sanitarian vehicle is budgeted at $50,000 for 2026; Walton said an earlier accident and insurance/workflow issues affected the timing of lease and replacement decisions. Separately, the budget book includes authorization to bond up to $2,500,000 for the South Pike restoration project under a worst-case scenario; Walton said the budget documents tie to previous presentations on that project but that the department will not include another initial resolution for bonding in this budget cycle because an initial resolution had been opened previously.

Members also discussed a planned ordinance amendment to transfer temporary-use approvals (firework stands, food trucks and similar one-year permits) from the Board of Adjustments to the Planning and Development Committee. Walton said about half of recent Board of Adjustments matters have been temporary uses and that moving those items would reduce the board's workload while increasing the committee's docket.

After the discussion, a committee member moved the budget; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Committee members asked staff to monitor year-end receipts and the RFP timeline and to return with any midyear revenue adjustments if required.