City Approves 2021 Budget

The Kenosha Common Council approved the 2021 budget which includes a significant increase to the tax levy. The budget calls for a more than a 4-point-3 percent increase to the tax levy-which means its going up by nearly 3 million dollars.

The increase in the city’s budget goes in part to hiring new employees in various departments-including the Police Department, human resources, and storm water services. 17th District Alderman David Bogdala told WLIP’s Wake Up Kenosha that the biggest addition to the city’s budget is techs that handle the brand new police body cams.

The increase means a home in the city of Kenosha worth 200-thousand dollars would pay more than 23-hundred dollars in property taxes, approximately 30 dollars more than this year.

The city budget approval was not without controversy. At this week’s Committee of the Whole meeting at which budget measures were debated, the issue of funding for the Lakeshore BID became a sticking point.

The district assesses more than 230 properties for a total nearing 170-thousand dollars. The money funds the business improvement district and Downtown Kenosha Inc. Bogdala said that the BID’s budget should be better itemized.

The measure passed on a 13-4 vote.