Kenosha County committee hears preliminary 2026 human services budget with cuts to aging, public health and child services

Kenosha County Human Services staff on July 1 presented a preliminary budget outlook for 2026 that includes modest reductions to Older Americans Act funding, a 28% cut to public health emergency preparedness support, expiration of a two-year independent living pilot, several child welfare grant reductions and a projected large increase in juvenile corrections placement costs if the state maintains proposed rates.

The committee was told the aging and disability services budget — about $8 million last year — includes a mix of federal, state, grant and county levy dollars. Staff said Older Americans Act Title III funding will see small decreases: a roughly $2,046 reduction in Title III-B supportive services, about $3,000 less for senior dining (Title C1) from a roughly $375,000 budget, and about $1,000 less to Meals on Wheels (Title C2). Staff said the county funds programs such as the Westosha Senior Center and the Kenosha Area Family Aging Services friendly visitor program with these dollars. The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) was shown with a $502 increase from last year’s $68,256 allocation.

Staff also said the state-run Independent Living for Families Pilot (ILFP) that the county participated in ended June 30. Over two years the pilot totaled roughly…