Dec. 15, 2022 7p
(WGTD)---Kenosha County's budget crisis was averted Thursday evening when County Board Chairman Gabe Nudo and a member of the board minority announced a compromise.
The stalemate, if it had continued, raised the possibility of layoffs and service cuts. It had come about when a bonding resolution failed to get support from three-quarters of the board, throwing a monkey wrench into the county's operations as a whole.
Members of the minority had been upset over what they viewed as the needless layoffs of two public works department employees and the defunding of a UW-Extension position.
The compromise includes a slight increase in the salary for a new hybrid public works department position. The hope is that a public works department project manager initially targeted for layoff will stay and apply for the new position. The compromise also involves the transfer of some unanticipated state aids to allow the UW-Extension position to remain in place. The position currently is empty. The third prong of the problem was resolved by previous board action that gave the second public works employee targeted for layoff a full retirement package.
Speaking at a meeting of the board's executive committee, Nudo said the compromise demonstrates that the two factions on the county board can work together.
A member of the board minority--Monica Yuhas--also spoke and had words of praise for Nudo. He initiated an informal meeting earlier this week between himself and Yuhas that led to the compromise. The two-and-a-half-hour-long session was held at a Culver's restaurant.
The full county board is expected to consider the compromise at a special meeting Monday night.
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