Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman presented her 2025 budget to the County Board
this evening, highlighting the countywide nature of the county’s recent fiscal success and its
ongoing collaborations in several areas.
For the fourth year in a row, Kerkman noted, county property taxes on a median-value home will
decrease from the previous year, going down by $1.70 under the budget as presented.
This, Kerkman said, reflects the county’s fiscal prudence as property values continue to soar.
“It’s this sort of responsible budgeting that brought us to AAA,” Kerkman said, of the county’s
top-tier bond rating. “And the budget I’m presenting tonight aims to keep us there.”
Kerkman noted several economic factors that are reflections of the county’s fiscal success,
including:
◼ Kenosha County’s ranking as the state’s third-highest county for employment growth
over the last five years, at 9.4 percent, and its ranking as second among the state’s 72
counties in jobs added since 2019, with nearly 5,700.
◼ Net new construction in Kenosha County in 2023 was fifth highest in the state at 2.7
percent, well above the statewide rate of 1.7 percent.
◼ Per-capita personal income increased by 2 percent from 2022 to 2023, and by 37.5
percent from 2017 to 2023.
◼ The county’s equalized value — the total value of properties as reported by the state —
was more than $27 billion this year, up 9 percent from last year and more than double
what it was in 2016.
“Higher property values do not automatically mean higher property taxes,” Kerkman said, citing
historical data that show the county has taxed far less than its annual percentage changes in
equalized value over the last several years.
1010 56th Street, 3rd Floor • Kenosha, WI 53140 • 262-653-2600
County.Executive@kenoshacountywi.gov • www.kenoshacounty.org
In the area of countywide collaborations reflected in her budget proposal, Kerkman cited the
upcoming transfer of Highway KR from county to state jurisdiction.
In an agreement negotiated between Kenosha and Racine counties and the state, Highway KR
east of Interstate 94 will become state Highway 195, state Highway 75 in western Kenosha
County will transfer to the jurisdiction of the counties, becoming Highway BD. This is expected
to take effect in November.
Kerkman said this comes as Highway KR east of I-94 was expanded into a major throughfare
with a state highway profile, while old Highway 75 will remain a two-lane, rural road.
“This agreement was several years in the making, and it makes sense for all parties involved,”
Kerkman said, noting that the county will realize a cost benefit in road maintenance, with
additional revenue anticipated from the state.
Kerkman also highlighted the recent split of one of the county’s Human Services into two,
creating the standalone Division of Behavioral Health Services and the Division of Aging and
Disability Services to even better met the needs of the community.
The budget Kerkman presented tonight includes the creation of a new embedded social worker
position — a Division of Behavioral Health Services employee who would work in concert with
the Sheriff’s Department.
“This social worker would be there to connect people with resources to help them in times of
great need, so that deputies can more quickly clear the scene on behavioral health-related calls,”
Kerkman said. “This allows the deputies to get back to law enforcement work, and it provides
someone with expertise to get people pointed in the right direction.”
Other budget highlights:
◼ The addition of a Digital Evidence Technician, a new, non-sworn position in the Sheriff’s
Department that would free up a sworn officer to serve in a public safety role.
◼ A continued commitment to maintaining roads with 13 budgeted miles of repaving in
2025.
◼ Funds allocated for planning of the next phase of Highway K expansion west of 94th
Court and for safety-minded improvements to Highway W from Wilmot to the Illinois
state line.
◼ Funds allocated to complete Phase 3 of the Pike River restoration in Petrifying Springs
Park as well as plan and design work for the Midwest Interstate Trail connecting Kenosha
and McHenry counties.
◼ An allocation to move forward with the restoration of the historic Ceremonial Courtroom
in the Courthouse, with a Blue-Ribbon Committee now having met the $1.35 million
private donation match to receive a $675,000 grant from the Jeffris Family Foundation.
The budget will now go to County Board committees for review throughout October, with a
public hearing to be held Nov. 6 and full board adoption of the budget scheduled for Nov. 7.
