DPW plans one-time carryover to reduce 2026 levy; highways warns of future GTA drop
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Summary
County public works proposed using one-time carryover funds (including SALT and other reserves) to reduce the 2026 levy. Highways staff said the strategy helps smooth 2026 but warned a multi-year falloff in state general transportation aid (GTA) could create pressure in future budget cycles.
Kenosha County's Department of Public Works presented a budget that relies on carryover funds to produce a modest levy reduction in 2026 and to cover near-term capital needs.
The department described using specific carryover balances, notably a SALT line fund in highways and unused park seasonal dollars, to offset operating and capital needs next year. Staff said the approach was intentional: allocate surplus or earmarked funds now to avoid a larger levy increase in 2026, while acknowledging that the technique is a one-time smoothing strategy and not sustainable indefinitely.
Highways staff walked supervisors through personnel reclassifications, equipment-buying priorities (shifting toward tandem-axle trucks and reallocating funding), bridge-inspection cyclical costs and a stormwater grant the county will administer. The presenter highlighted a near-term stability in general transportation aid (GTA) but warned that in two budget cycles the formula will drop one of the favorable years from the multi-year calculation, which could reduce GTA funding materially unless other funds or revenue methods are adopted.
Supervisors also discussed capital items on the county project list, including roof replacements and the timing of large road projects such as Highway W and Highway K. The board approved the DPW/highways items by voice vote.