Kenosha County Human Resources staff presented a summary of a tentative 2026–2028 collective bargaining agreement with the Kenosha County Deputy Sheriff's Union that the union has ratified and that staff said will be included in the county budget resolution.

Ashley Leatherman, assistant director of human resources, highlighted key contract provisions: a revised grievance procedure to require written submission to the sheriff and a copy to the chief deputy when step 1 does not resolve a grievance; conversion of an existing casual day so it can be used in two‑hour increments and one casual day may carry over; expanded definition of immediate family to include foster children and registered domestic partners as allowed by relevant statutes; additions to holiday premium pay (the union selected Memorial Day and Labor Day for time‑and‑a‑half or double‑time in some schedules); and added vacation days at several long‑service milestones.

Leatherman said the clothing reimbursement for protective vests and carriers was increased from $900 to $1,200 to reflect current prices. The agreement also includes overtime and travel provisions: pay for travel time for department‑assigned training outside the county; an explicit choice for deputies between overtime pay or flex time for training outside regular shifts; bridging pay for an unavoidable one‑hour break between regular and overtime shifts; and meal reimbursement when a department trip out of county lasts more than eight hours.

On wages, Leatherman said the summary shows a minimum 3% increase effective Jan. 4, 2026, followed by a midyear adjustment (1.5% noted in the summary), and that the second and third contract years list increases of 2.25% at the beginning of each year and 1.75% midyear. The wage tables are appended to the HR summary provided to committee members.

Supervisors asked whether the new provisions would raise the county's overtime costs. Leatherman said travel pay and training decisions would be managed by the sheriff's office professional development budget and that the option of flex time could reduce overtime in some cases. Finance staff confirmed the agreement's costs have been incorporated into the draft budget.

Nick, identified in the meeting as the union president, spoke in support of the agreement, saying the contract updates are competitive with neighboring agencies and aimed at recruiting and retaining younger deputies and lateral transfers.

Leatherman and staff said the tentative agreement will be included in the county's budget resolution; a separate motion to approve the agreement at the committee level was withdrawn because the formal approval will occur as part of the budget process.