Committee moves Kenosha police 2026 operating budget and vehicle costs into CIP, flags cybersecurity and camera storage

The Public Safety & Welfare Committee on Oct. 29 voted to recommend the Kenosha Police Department’s 2026 operating budget and the department’s 2026–2030 capital improvement plan to the Finance Committee.

Mayor (name given as Mayor in the record) told the committee that ‘‘you’ll see $657,000 that has been moved out of their budget and into the capital improvement plan,’’ describing the shift as driven by higher vehicle prices and longer in‑service life for patrol vehicles.

Chief of Police (referred to in the record as the chief) told the committee the department does not issue take‑home cars and uses a ‘‘hot‑seating’’ model in which vehicles are used 24/7 by successive shifts. The chief said the department has moved to hybrid (HEV) patrol…