Planning, Development & Extension Education Committee Budget Meeting, October 14, 2026

Kenosha County Planning, Development & Extension Education Committee budget meeting, October 14, 2026: The committee reviewed and approved recommendations to the Finance Committee for the proposed 2027 UW Extension and Planning and Development budgets. UW Extension’s main increase was about $900 for educator mileage and travel; its budget also includes the county’s share of educator costs under the 136 agreement, with a $10,000 university discount. Program budgets were described as levy-neutral, with revenue offsetting expenses. Planning and Development’s budget reflects a one-year, half-time assistant director position beginning around June 2027 to support succession planning, funded from reserves, and a projected $108,000 year-over-year decrease overall. Contracted building inspection services were budgeted at $450,000, down from $640,000 in 2026; related revenue comes in part from municipal agreements, including with the Villages of Somers and Salem Lakes, and permit-fee increases approved earlier were incorporated into the budget. No new contract award or vendor selection was made.

The committee also discussed a South Pike River restoration capital project associated with a new grant, and state funding of approximately $150,000 tied to the county’s proposed ten-year Land and Water Conservation Plan. Members identified limited conservation staffing as a constraint on pursuing grants and suggested assessing staffing and potential grant revenue for a future budget cycle. The committee approved several land-use plan amendments, rezonings, and certified survey maps, and recommended appointments or reappointments to county councils and boards; these actions did not involve procurement awards.