Kerkman emphasizes the progress, transparency in the annual district address

Kenosha County, Wis. – In her third state of the district speech, Samantha Kerkman Samantha Kerkman offered a luminous assessment of the instruction of the local government, which described the district as “strong” and its future “light” and at the same time took the opportunity to celebrate great economic victories, budget discipline and what it described as a renewed obligation for transparency.

Kerkman, who was elected as the first female manager in Kenosha County in 2022, held the address on the County Board on Tuesday evening. She used speech on the 175th anniversary of the district and the 100-year-old milestone of the historic court building of Kenosha County, which will be commemorated on August 24th in a public celebration.

“We don't take our foot from the accelerator pedal,” said Kerkman. “We make Kenosha County – the goal in Wisconsin – an even more attractive place to live, work and play.”

Economic growth and budget discipline

One of the most remarkable highlights was the 3 -billion dollar expansion project by Eli Lilly in Pleasant Prairie and Bristol, which is expected to bring 750 permanent jobs and 2,000 building jobs. Kerkman also bought Microsoft through 240 hectares northwest of the I-94 and the Highway 142 ownership, in which the city of Kenosha was recently implemented for a potential development of the calculation center.

“These investments are deforming our economic landscape,” said Kerkman and attributes the Kenosha Area Business Alliance to the position of the district as a business -friendly goal.

In the financial front, Kerkman referred to a number of “high -quality budgets” with an average tax tax of only 2.27 percent over three years. She wrote rising real estate values ​​that many homeowners made it possible to recognize the actual reductions in the district's property taxes. The sales tax revenue also reached record highs in early 2025, and the district kept its AAA bond -rating from S&P Global and still saves more than $ 1 million in interest costs.

Transparency and public commitment

Kerkman emphasized new tools that should become more accessible to the public. A newly designed website of the district, the data hboards for human services and a public list of infrastructure projects were advertised as part of a comprehensive transparency initiative.

Her administration also started an e-newsletter and expanded Outreach events such as “Human Services on the Go” to bring resources directly to the residents. She rated the County Board the support of these efforts and took off several superiors for her work, including the chairman Monica Yuhas, the Human Services Watchdog Supervisor Franco, and the supervisor Belsky, who headed the advance for data transparency.

“We serve people where they are and don't wait for you to find us,” said Kerkman.

Environmental and infrastructure projects

Kerkman referred to the long -planned restoration of the southern branch of the Pike River as a success story in cooperation and cost savings. The project is unanimously approved by the board in March and aims to improve water quality and environmental conditions and at the same time maintain the original cost estimates.

She also praised the introduction of a new adopt-a-highway program on the day of the earth-and recognized the departments of public work and parks for her quick reaction to a heavy storm, which damaged over 100 trees on the golf course from Brighton Dale last week.

Public security and social services

The district's investment in behavioral health and public security also steered. A newly embedded social worker now works alongside the sheriff's office to support the residents in crisis. Other recent additions to criminal prosecution include more MPs, detectives, a civilian prison administrator and a data analyst – a role that Kerkman said, helped the Sheriff's office to combat strategic crime trends.

Look ahead

Despite the festival of the celebration, Kerkman admitted to agreeing impending challenges, including a new EPA name, which characterized the southeastern Wisconsin as a “severe non -survey” area for air quality. Classification could impose harder regulations on local manufacturers, although a large part of ozone pollution comes from Illinois and Indiana.

“My administration, Kaba and our regional economic development partners work with our congress delegation to tackle this unfair burden,” said Kerkman and stated ongoing talks with Rep. Bryan Steil and Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson.

County Pride and community spirit

The address ended with a solemn note when Kerkman presented a video produced with the Emmy-price-crowned video in collaboration with a unique Wisconsin and Kenosha's connections to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the film “A League”.

“Although we have achieved a lot in the past three years, we have not yet finished,” said Kerkman. “The state of Kenosha County remains strong. Our history is rich and our future is bright.”

A community celebration, which marks the 100th anniversary of the hundred years, will take place on Sunday, August 24th, with further details being announced.