The Kenosha County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt the 2026 county budget on a 21–1 roll call after approving an amendment directing county administration to conduct a mid‑April 2026 review of the District Attorney's office staffing and fiscal position and to potentially authorize up to two full‑time support positions for the remainder of 2026.

The amendment, entered into the record and passed before the final budget vote, instructs administration to report on the ADA staffing census and the projected 2025 fiscal‑year end surplus or deficit during the county's annual carryover closeout process. If the review shows available 2025 vacancy savings or other surplus funds, administration may recommend authorization of up to two FTEs — identified in the amendment as one paralegal and one victim‑witness specialist — to be funded for the remainder of the 2026 fiscal year.

The amendment text, read aloud for the record, cites that the Wisconsin Legislature authorized 2.5 additional assistant district attorneys for Kenosha County effective Oct. 5, 2025, as part of the state's 2025–2027 budget. Finance staff told supervisors that county‑funded support positions (paralegals, victim‑witness staff, legal secretaries and clerical staff) have experienced vacancies during 2025 that produced surplus funds in personnel appropriations. Finance estimated the annual cost for two support positions at about $160,000; staff noted that if positions are hired in spring 2026 they would not likely be funded for a full year in 2026.

During discussion Supervisor Grady asked whether the county currently has a full complement of assistant district attorneys; finance staff confirmed the state allocation exists but the newly authorized ADAs were not yet on staff. Supervisor Nudo raised concerns about committing funds before a verified closeout and cautioned that the board would need a two‑thirds vote to enter an amendment over objection. Nudo later attempted a separate motion to add the two positions immediately on the county levy, but that motion failed for lack of a second and therefore died.

After the amendment passed on a 21–1 vote (Supervisor Nudo dissenting), the board approved the 2026 budget as amended on the same tally.

The board chair framed the budget as more than numbers, saying the budget is a set of priorities and thanked supervisors and county staff for their work developing the plan. The administration's formal recommendation and any subsequent request to fund positions will return to the board for consideration if the April 2026 closeout shows available funds.

Action details: the board entered amendment language directing a mid‑April 2026 staffing and fiscal review for the District Attorney's office and approved the 2026 budget as amended. The amendment permits administration to recommend, based on verified 2025 vacancy savings or other surplus funds, authorization of up to two support positions for the remainder of the 2026 fiscal year.