Kenosha County’s Human Services Committee met in October to review the county’s proposed 2026 human services budgets, approve divisional budgets, and confirm several board appointments.

Tammy Capito, of the human services finance team, summarized the package and said, “We will start on the summary page. We are looking for a levy decrease of 1 point just under 1,400,000.0 or 6.33 percent.” The committee then voted to approve each divisional budget separately and carried several appointment resolutions for presentation to the full county board where required.

Why it matters: Human services is a major portion of the county executive’s overall budget. The committee’s actions set staffing levels, grant-funded positions and levy impacts that will affect nursing-home operations, children and family services, behavioral health, workforce programs and other county services in 2026.

Major budget highlights and changes

- Brookside Nursing Home (proprietary fund): The committee approved a budget that includes a planned census increase (from about 136 to 144), new and reclassified positions, and a $500,000 transfer from Brookside revenues back to the general fund. Capito told the committee Brookside and Willowbrook together are projected to add about $1.8 million to reserves, with an estimated combined positive balance of roughly $450,000 after the transfer. The budget assumes higher Medicaid and Medicare daily rates than 2025 in some lines and includes succession-planning pay adjustments for retiring staff.

- Willowbrook assisted living (24-bed facility): The committee approved a budget that shows a projected $120,000 increase to Willowbrook reserves. The Willowbrook manager position is reduced and oversight will be provided by a Brookside resident services manager; no resident rate increase was included for 2026 after a 7% increase in 2025.

- Office of the Director: Approved with a levy increase driven by staffing recruitment/retention and six months of rent for the new human services building in 2026.

- Children and Family Services: The committee approved a budget that shows a levy decrease driven by lower out-of-home placement costs (budgeted placements down from $12.5 million in 2025 to just over $11 million in 2026). Capito said part of that reduction reflects changes in state payment rates and lower per-day costs at some placement types. The division also incorporated more Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) provider revenue and expenses into its budget, increasing both revenue and costs by millions to reflect service facilitation and provider services.

- Workforce Development: Approved with a requested full-time economic support lead trainer position (previously half-contracted with Racine County) and adjustments to WIOA, Rapid Response and other grant revenues to align with current trends. The division’s rent for the new building is included for six months.

- Central services and job center: Approved; includes postage increases and a modest provider cost-of-living adjustment. The county continues to contract mail-room staffing (described as provided through Goodwill in the meeting).

- Office of the Medical Examiner: Approved with a small net decrease; the budget increases anticipated autopsy counts and reflects higher fees from Milwaukee for autopsy services.

- Veterans Services: Approved with a modest levy increase for staff recruitment/retention and increased building rent.

- Division of Health Services: Approved with a levy increase that includes several reclassifications and the phase-out of the city contribution (about $100,000 per year for several years). Several grant-funded FTEs tied to the Public Health Infrastructure grant and a SAMHSA grant were removed when those grants ended.

- Division of Aging and Disability: Approved with a levy increase. The budget reduces some Medicaid revenue projections based on recent actuals, adds a new targeted case management Medicaid drawdown for adult protective services (budgeted at $20,000), and discontinues a short-term independent living pilot that ended June 30, 2025.

- Division of Behavioral Health Services: Approved with a projected levy decrease driven by reductions in several grant-funded programs and lower placement-day estimates in state institutes, offset in part by increases in lower-cost local placements (for example, Lake Behavioral) and other program shifts. The committee approved setting aside a $200,000 pool to cover non‑Medicaid-eligible behavioral health services for people who lack insurance or whose insurance denies coverage. The comprehensive alcohol and drug treatment program was removed and partly replaced by the non‑Medicaid pool and other grants; the committee discussed that the program had matured and other community treatment options now exist.

Votes at a glance (meeting actions)

- Appointment: Stephanie Connolly — motion to approve carried; next step is the county board vote (scheduled in transcript reference for November 4). (action: appointment; outcome: approved by committee)

- Reappointments approved by committee (to be forwarded to the county board where required): Charles Burmeister (Veterans Service Commission); Donald Deal (Veterans Service Commission); Julie Bayless (Kenosha County Commission on Aging and Disability, name as presented in transcript); Constance Carr (Human Services Board). (actions: reappointments; outcome: approved by committee)

- Divisional budgets: The committee voted to approve budgets for Brookside Nursing Home; Willowbrook Assisted Living; Office of the Director; Children and Family Services; Workforce Development; Central Services; Medical Examiner; Veterans Services; Health Services; Aging and Disability; and Behavioral Health Services. Each divisional budget vote was carried by the committee. (actions: budget approvals; outcome: approved by committee)

Details and process notes drawn from committee discussion

- Grant expirations: Several positions were defunded because associated grants ended (SAMHSA, certain public health infrastructure funding and other short-term grants). Committee and staff noted that grant-funded positions are removed when the grant funding ends.

- New building rent: Multiple divisions included six months of rent in the 2026 budget for a planned new human services building; the committee asked about variance in rent amounts across divisions and staff explained differences reflect square footage and assigned space.

- Provider increases: The county included a 3% provider increase in several divisions.

- Fiscal presentation: Capito said Brookside is projected to move from a negative to a small positive combined balance with Willowbrook after the planned levy transfer and reserve additions.

What’s next: Several appointments confirmed by the committee proceed to the full county board for final approval. The adopted divisional budgets will be incorporated into Kenosha County’s final 2026 budget process according to the county timeline.

Speakers quoted or specifically identified in the meeting included Tammy Capito (human services finance team), Kathy Duberstein (committee organizer), John Jansen (human services leadership), Rebecca Dutter (human services leadership), and Supervisors Franco, Kirby, Brown, Nez, Poole, Robinson, Nudo, Grama/Gama. Human Services Board members present or named included Richard Willoughby, Constance Carr, James Hall. Several staff and presenters were identified by first name only in the transcript (for example, Carrie, Patty) and are referenced in context of their presentations or answers to committee questions.