(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — Mayor David Bogdala on Monday presented a balanced 2026 operating budget and five-year Capital Improvement Plan that he says will trim the city portion of homeowners’ tax bills while maintaining essential services and funding long-term projects.
Under the proposal, the operating budget is approximately $106.4 million, a 1.6% increase over the current year. The total property-tax levy would rise 1.62% to $82.96 million, matching the state-permitted levy increase of $1.32 million. City officials project that a Kenosha home valued at $200,000 would owe $1,692 for the city portion of the tax bill in 2026—down $12.40, or 0.73%, from 2025.
Bogdala framed the plan as balancing day-to-day services with long-term needs, pointing to the operating budget and the five-year capital plan as the two pillars of the city’s financial roadmap. The city continues to hold a AA bond rating from S&P, supported, the administration says, by a growing tax base, strong operating performance, and reserves equal to roughly three months of expenditures.
“Our budget reflects sound fiscal management, strategic investments in our future and a commitment to keeping Kenosha a place where families can thrive, businesses can grow and opportunity is within reach for everyone,” Bogdala said in prepared remarks. He added, “We’re not waiting for opportunity—we’re building it, right here at home.”
The Common Council will now take up the spending plan through its committee process, where members can question department heads, seek amendments, and decide what ultimately proceeds to the full council for a vote.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
12 Responses
This guy should educated the Salem Lakes people. Yikes
Salem Lakes doesn’t need the city of Kenosha’s corruption and kickbacks to friends and campaign donors that Kenosha is known for.
Salem Lakes needs the help at not spending so much money on bullshit.
Is there specific kickbacks you are referring too? Specific donors and/or companies that are engaging in this.
You are post anonymously so please share your info.
For starts, the company hired to rewrite the codes.
So there was kickbacks to this anonymous company? Or the company kicked back money anonymously to?
Same firm that does their labor legal. Keep it in the family.
For seconds, highly paid Kenosha City Administrator John Morrissey has a fake college degree. Yet the mayor and city council still lets him keep his job.
If Mr. Morrissey didn’t do his job during the last administration I don’t think he would have kept it during the current administration. I’ve had nothing but positive interactions with Mr. Morrissey and this current administration from the Mayor on down. Our city is moving in the right direction from what I can see.
I was excited to see Salem Lakes change all their officials at once, but from what I see through KCE, Salem Lakes is on its way towards corruption just like all the other towns around here. I had hope and thought Pleasanr Prairie people would learn from that town, but it doesnt look like it matters. Same corruption everywhere. Sad.
Salem Lakes, Wisconsin, home of scenic views, rising taxes, and a local government that treats your wallet like a bottomless all you can eat brunch. If you thought fiscal responsibility was still a thing, think again. The board is on autopilot, and the only one who seems to have read a budget report is Poli. The rest? They’re just there for the snacks and the ceremonial pen.
Raises for everyone! Because when you’re broke, the best move is clearly to hand out raises like Oprah. “You get a raise! You get a raise! Everybody gets a raise!” Staff and attorneys are living their best lives while residents get the bill, and a side of confusion.
Need cash? Just borrow it! Salem Lakes is reportedly eyeing a $2 million loan, which translates to a 20% tax hike. That’s right, your taxes are going up just so they can keep pretending everything’s fine. And next year? Let’s make it $4 million. Why stop now? Fiscal cliff diving is apparently a sport there.
Cut services? That’s for towns that care about sustainability. Salem Lakes prefers the “more taxes, less services” model. It’s bold, it’s brash, and it’s completely bonkers.
President Bucur’s, Hopkins, Gandt, Faber, Brooks and Barhyte budgeting style? Think of it like shopping with a blindfold. They spend first, then checks if there’s money. Spoiler: there isn’t. It’s like watching someone max out a credit card and then ask if the bank account has any money in it. Like using a credit Card to pay for a credit card, what could go wrong.
And remember that whole “change” thing with Tesar? Turns out it was more like swapping out the pilot mid-flight, with no parachutes. At least most of the old board knew how to count.
Every politician who uses the moronic line of wasting taxpayer money on “investments” should be subjected to multiple taser shots….