City and county officials in Kenosha are preparing for budget season, a process that will determine spending on public safety, capital improvement projects, and more for 2027.
Officials say that in addition to inflation, which has increased costs for many services, they are facing significant funding challenges for 2027. They plan to prioritize essential and effective services.
Here's what to know about budget season:
Budget Priorities
Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian and County Executive Erin Pabst met to discuss their respective administrations' priorities for the upcoming budget year. Both the city and county will present their proposed budgets in August.
The proposed budgets will be presented to their respective finance committees in August. The city's budget will be presented to the Finance Committee on Aug. 5. The county's budget will be presented to the County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 6.
Capital Improvement Plans
City and county officials are presenting their capital improvement plans in the coming weeks. Projects are funded in part through the city's Capital Improvement Plan.
Kenosha will present its capital improvement plan to the County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 5. Pabst will present her capital improvement plan to the Finance Committee on Aug. 6.
Budget Updates
While budget discussions for 2027 have begun, both the city and county have seen budget updates in recent years. The City of Kenosha's budget increased by $11.7 million from 2025 to 2026. The county's budget increased by $7.1 million from 2025 to 2026.
Budget Figures
The city's proposed budget is $111.7 million, a 11.7% increase from 2025. The county's proposed budget is $67.1 million, a 11.7% increase from 2025.
The city's capital improvement budget is $11.7 million, a 11.7% increase from 2025. The county's capital improvement budget is $7.1 million, a 11.7% increase from 2025.
