Finance committee approves 35¢/sq ft land rental rate at Kenosha Regional Airport

The Kenosha Finance Committee voted to approve a mayoral resolution raising the Kenosha Regional Airport land rental rate to 35¢ per square foot, to apply to all 53 airport land leases beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

The increase passed on a voice vote of the committee with Chairperson Wilson, Alderperson Rosenberg, Alderperson Dyson and Alderperson Harper recorded as voting aye. The motion moves to the full Common Council for final action at 7 p.m.

The airport director presented the resolution and cited operating losses and recent capital investments. “Since then, the state, the city, and the federal government invested over $32,000,000 in the airport in improving and updating it,” the director said, and described growing reliance on a city subsidy: “In 2023, we needed $125,000 in assistance. And in 2026…we’re gonna need about $379,000.” The director said increasing rents and cutting costs are the primary options to narrow that gap.

The director provided comparisons with nearby airports and statewide averages, saying Waukegan charges 65¢ per square foot, Waukesha 45¢ and the Wisconsin average for comparable large general aviation airports is about 56¢ per square foot. He also gave examples of how the change would affect different hangar types, including an estimate that a typical 80-by-80 hangar could see about a $1,350 annual increase and that the proposed change would reduce the city subsidy by about $233,808 in 2026.

Several airport tenants spoke during the public hearing. Shelly and Jim Koehl, identified as Kenosha Airport tenants, asked the committee to postpone or amortize the increase over a multi‑year period. “It’s a 40% increase. Way above COLA. It’s excessive and unreasonable,” Shelly Koehl said, adding that tenants had exchanged many emails opposing a single-year jump. The pair asked the committee to consider amortizing the increase over five years or seeking new commercial revenue to offset tenant impacts.

Mayor (unnamed in the hearing) and the airport director both urged approval. The mayor said the rate was not “pulled out of the sky” and pointed to the city’s continued investment in the airport. The director also sought to put tenant concerns in context: “40% sounds like a lot… but the way it’s gonna impact her is less than $17 a month,” he said.

Committee discussion noted the last rent increase took effect Jan. 1, 2019, and members compared Kenosha’s proposed rate with neighboring airports and stated averages. After debate, a motion to approve the 35¢ rate carried.

The resolution will appear before the Common Council on the stated meeting date for final approval. If adopted as proposed, staff said the new rate would be applied to existing lease agreements on Jan. 1, 2026.

Votes at a glance: Committee recorded ayes from Chairperson Wilson, Alderperson Rosenberg, Alderperson Dyson and Alderperson Harper; no no votes were recorded during the committee roll call.