Kenosha County public works committee approves 2026 budgets, discusses FTE changes and capital funding

The Kenosha County Public Works and Development Services Committee on an evening session reviewed the department-level operating budgets and capital improvement projects for 2026 and approved each departmental proposal by voice vote.

The committee began by addressing personnel changes in Highways, where a reclassification will combine the highway commissioner role with director duties and create an assistant director of public works position. Speaker 3 said the change is “more of a succession planning” move and that the net budgetary impact shown in the book is about $7,500. The reclassification reduces one highway FTE on paper while reallocating administrative duties across divisions.

Committee members heard a department-by-department presentation from staff. On the University of Wisconsin Extension, Speaker 3 said Extension is fully staffed for the coming year and runs roughly 23 programs; the committee approved the Extension budget by voice vote. Planning and Development staff highlighted stronger building-inspection fee revenue after a full year of data and said the county will issue an RFP for building inspection services and a fee review; the committee approved that portion of the budget unanimously.

Facilities staff explained a small increase in a custodian FTE (0.25) to cover multiple county buildings, added a new personal protective equipment line and described capital changes: the KCPD roof replacement line is shown here at $1,025,000 (down from $2,000,000 at the CIP meeting after staff rolled over funds from other projects), and the West Bend Tower project cost was reduced slightly to about $1.21 million. Staff said construction and final site selection, with Kenosha County Veterans Memorial Park mentioned as a candidate site, will proceed through design work in 2026.

Parks presentations showed some salary increases and a plan to draw from parkland reserves for shoreline restoration and shelter projects; staff cited about $350,000 expected from a pending highway-parcel sale (one parcel remains to be finalized with the DNR) and estimated parkland reserve availability near $150,000 after proposed uses. The parks budget was approved by voice vote.

The golf enterprise fund remains self-supporting, staff said, with conservative 2026 budgeting of $4.4 million in revenue versus an expected year-end near $5.3 million; capital work will be funded from proprietary revenues. The committee approved the golf budget unanimously.

Highways staff warned the committee that General Transportation Aid (GTA) — a state funding source that makes up a substantial share of highway revenues — is expected to decline once certain projects fall off the funding schedule. Speaker 3 said GTA has safeguards but noted the county will need to budget for reduced aid in coming years. Staff also described planned bridge inspections (about $65,000 on a two‑year cycle), phased equipment purchases, and major paving work (roughly 11.5 miles next year). The highways budget was approved unanimously.

Supervisor Balsky closed with a prepared statement praising the department’s approach. Balsky said the proposal is “a very thoughtful and well balanced proposal” that protects essential services while holding the tax levy essentially flat and noted about $38 million in proposed bonded projects with nearly $10 million in grants.

Votes at a glance - UW Extension budget: approved by voice vote (ayes, no oppositions). - Planning & Development portion: approved (mover: Supervisor Dacher; second: Supervisor Meadows; unanimous). - Facilities: approved (mover: Supervisor Decker; second: Supervisor Gabbard; unanimous). - Parks: approved (mover: Steve Vibelski; second: Supervisor Franco; unanimous). - Golf: approved (unanimous voice vote). - Highways: approved (mover/second recorded; unanimous).

What’s next Staff noted several projects move into design and procurement in 2026 — including roof work, radio/tower design and selected highway projects — and flagged that some capital work is being funded by carryover or repurposed bond proceeds. Committee members were encouraged to follow up in upcoming committee and Finance/Administration hearings for detailed procurement and timing information.

Meeting adjourned following the unanimous approvals; the committee plans to meet again in November (dates under consideration).