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Sheriff outlines staffing, equipment and inmate-revenue pressures; pitches SAFER alerts and wellness program
Summary
The Kenosha County sheriff described several budget pressures — fewer federal inmates than budgeted, uncertain inmate-telecom revenue, costly equipment replacements — and promoted a new SAFER alert system and an officer wellness program as priorities.
Sheriff David Zerna told supervisors the department faces multiple budget and operational pressures that are likely to carry into the 2026 budget year, including fewer U.S. Marshals inmates than budgeted and uncertainty around inmate-phone revenue tied to pending FCC action.
Zerna described a county rollout of a SAFER (Specialized Alerts for Enhanced Response) program to give deputies and dispatch access to pre-registered information about residents with mental-health or cognitive needs. “This is such a good program because these people can put the information in the computer,” Zerna said, adding the county plans a “hard launch” with school resource officers in May for Mental Health Awareness Month.
On revenue, Zerna said the sheriff’s office budget assumed a certain number of U.S. Marshals inmates but that actual placements were far lower. He noted the county budgeted for about 60 U.S. Marshals inmates but said the county was averaging roughly 26, calling that a “shortfall” and warning it could translate to approximately a $1 million revenue gap if levels do not rise.
The sheriff also flagged a potential drop in inmate-phone revenue if the FCC changes rules governing inmate telecommunications, saying the county currently budgets a portion of revenue from those contracts and that the outcome of FCC action is unclear.
Equipment and capital needs discussed included a planned procurement of 13 patrol squads with costly upfitting, an upcoming renewal of the body-worn camera contract to be discussed in 2026, taser cartridge replacements and possible kitchen repairs in detention. Zerna said the department is monitoring overtime, inmate medical costs and contract negotiations for jail medical services and food service.
Zerna also described other operational changes: the county has launched CREATE (Kenosha-Racine Area Investigative Team), a multi-jurisdictional investigative unit the sheriff said replaces some prior reliance on state-level resources; he said the county is “never going to be laying up when it's time for a good investigation.”
On personnel supports, Zerna urged investment in a proactive officer-wellness program intended to address physical and mental challenges for sworn and civilian staff, linking the program to retention and performance. “This matters very much because of the calls for service our officers are on every single day,” he said, describing traumatic calls and responders’ need for support.
Supervisors asked detailed budget questions about fleet upfitting timelines, overtime, and possible offsets for expected revenue shortfalls. Zerna said the department is looking at nonessential spending, training budgets and continued requests to U.S. Marshals but that many options would not close large revenue gaps quickly.
No formal budget motions were made during the presentation; Sheriff Zerna asked supervisors to consider the operational and wellness investments amid the county’s broader budget planning.
