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Kenosha County Board approves $348,708 carryover closeout after debate over health department reclassification
Summary
The Kenosha County Board approved the 2024–25 carryover and closeout totaling $348,708 after rejecting an amendment to cite COVID‑19 as the cause of prior Brookside budget adjustments. Supervisors questioned a health department management reclassification and grant funding for positions before the 18–1 vote.
The Kenosha County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a 2024–25 carryover and annual closeout totaling $348,708, rejecting an amendment that would have added ‘‘due to the COVID‑19 pandemic’’ to a whereas clause about Brookside financial adjustments.
The vote on Resolution 101 was 18 in favor and 1 opposed; Supervisor Anita Stocker cast the lone no vote. An amendment by Supervisor Salvador Nudo that would have inserted language referencing the COVID‑19 pandemic failed on a roll call of 12 no and 7 yes.
Board members and staff also used the discussion on the carryover resolution to question a planned restructure within the Kenosha County Health Department that would reclassify an existing manager to a deputy director and create a half‑time grant development and communication position supported in part by a HUD lead abatement grant.
The carryover closeout is the annual accounting step to carry forward funds for ongoing projects, reallocate unused appropriations, and cover mid‑year personnel changes. Supervisor Kirby, who moved the resolution, told the board the detailed list of items requiring approval is on page 10 of the packet and that the items total $348,708.
Supervisor Nudo offered an amendment to add a statement that the county suspended a budgeted location to the Brookside cost center ‘‘due to the COVID‑19 pandemic.’’ Nudo said the addition would clarify the cause of prior budget actions for future readers. Supervisor Decker argued the Brookside fiscal issues were not solely pandemic‑related, citing staffing and pay scale problems, and opposed the amendment. The amendment failed on a roll call vote of 7 in favor and 12 opposed.
During discussion, Supervisor Stocker questioned the health department staffing changes, asking whether the restructure would remain levy neutral beyond 2025 and whether grant funding supported positions being altered. A county health department staff member, identified in the record as Rebecca, said the deputy director reclassification moves an existing manager position to a deputy director role and that the new grant development and communication position would be half supported by a five‑year HUD lead abatement grant starting in April. Rebecca said the grant support will not jeopardize the HUD grant and that some positions could result in cost savings or additional costs depending on salary and benefits of incumbents or hires.
Stocker also raised concerns about references to equity in the new job descriptions and said she wanted hiring to focus on qualifications. Rebecca said the restructure was informed by organizational reviews of peer health departments and intended to allow the health officer to focus on broader community issues while a deputy director handles day‑to‑day operations.
After questions and discussion, the full resolution passed 18–1. Supervisor Stocker recorded the lone no vote; the meeting record shows the amendment proposed by Supervisor Nudo was seconded by Supervisor Belsky and failed earlier in the proceedings.
The approved carryover closeout includes accounting actions for Brookside and county reserves and several mid‑year personnel budget changes; the packet identifies the line‑item details.
The board will address budget priorities further during a scheduled budget vision session on April 29 at the Human Services Building, where members and staff plan to discuss the 2026 budget.
