Kenosha County executive highlights fiscal health, major investments and air-quality concerns in state address

Samantha Kirkman, Kenosha County executive, told the County Board she was delivering an update on “the state of our county,” and highlighted record sales tax receipts, a continued AAA bond rating and major private investments she said are reshaping the county’s economy.

Kirkman said the county’s finances remain strong: “Our county tax levy has increased just 2.27% over the last 3 years,” and she told the board the county achieved a record month for sales tax collections in January. She also credited maintaining a AAA rating from S&P Global with saving the county “more than a million dollars in interest cost.”

The address covered several recent and ongoing projects that officials said matter to residents and to economic development. Kirkman noted the board earlier passed a resolution to move forward with restoration of the South Branch of the Pike River, and she announced a refreshed county website and an Adopt‑a‑Highway volunteer program launched on Earth Day.

Kirkman emphasized private investment in the county’s economic outlook. She described Eli Lilly’s December announcement of a $3,000,000,000 expansion, saying the company’s project is “expected to create 750 family supporting jobs and over 2,000 construction jobs.” She also mentioned a large land purchase—“240 acres northwest of I‑94 and Highway 142”—that the city of Kenosha has rezoned for potential data‑center development.

On energy and land‑use policy, Kirkman said the board had earlier adopted zoning ordinances that impose parameters for battery storage permits after the board put a temporary moratorium in place while potential health and safety issues were studied. She thanked the county’s Planning, Development and Extension Education Committee and PEDEC Chair Guida Brown for that work.

Kirkman raised a regional air‑quality concern that could affect local manufacturers: “The EPA has reclassified Southeastern Wisconsin as a severe nonattainment area for air quality,” she told supervisors, and she said much of the county’s measured ozone is transported from Illinois and Indiana. Kirkman said her administration and regional partners are working with members of Congress and state officials, and that “they have our backs.”

On public safety and human services, Kirkman said the county added staff to the Sheriff’s Office and has placed an embedded social worker in behavioral health services to work alongside deputies on behavioral‑health calls. She thanked the board for supporting the added deputies, detectives, a civilian jail administrator and a data analyst for the sheriff’s office.

Kirkman closed by noting cultural and historic projects, including work on the courthouse ceremonial courtroom and new playground equipment at Old Settler’s Park, and by thanking the board and civic partners for volunteer efforts.

Kirkman’s address was delivered at the board meeting called to order by the chair; several supervisors and department leaders were present during the remarks.