The McHenry County Commission is divided and will consider whether to approve a small tax increase to fund three new sheriff’s deputy positions.
Taxpayers should see relief from the county portion of their tax bill after leaders backed a pledge to eliminate about $11 million previously earmarked for the mental health commission, but the commission’s Some argue for further reductions.
Last week, the County Commission proposed a 2025 budget that cuts the levy by an additional 3% to take full advantage of new growth and the Consumer Price Index, a proxy for this year’s inflation rate. So far, we have considered several scenarios (this year’s inflation rate is 3.4%).
At the committee meeting, board member Terry Greeno, R-Crystal Lake, said there was no need for new growth or inflation-linked tax cap increases in this year’s budget.
“This year we will be able to cut it by 3%,” Greeno said.
Last week, Republican Crystal Lake board member John Reinert also said he supports not accepting the full increase allowed under the tax cap.
During last year’s budget vote, Mr. Greeno proposed a flat tax. This failed by one vote, but the county commission passed a smaller tax increase by one vote.
“We have to advocate for the taxpayers. That’s what we’re doing here. It’s our job as a board to level this out,” Greeno said Thursday. told.
Greeno ultimately voted against bringing forward the 2025 budget and levy in front of the entire board, becoming the only “no” vote on the Finance Committee. The current levy is about $65 million, lower than last year’s about $73 million, according to county documents. The levy proposed this year incorporates new growth and a portion of the CPI. The proposed levy is approximately $8 million lower than last year, primarily due to property tax reductions for mental health services. The funding replaced the one-fourth cent of sales approved by voters in the March primary election and went into effect July 1.
“I think we all have a stake in this,” said board member Brian Sager (R-Woodstock), adding that keeping in mind the economic burden on residents and businesses is the board’s “ “It’s a responsibility,” he added. Sager noted the county is in the business of providing services.
“What the county is providing is a service that the entire population wants,” Sager said, adding that the county has an obligation to provide the service, but it also has an obligation to do so in a fiscally responsible manner. added.
Sager said the county should make cuts where it can, but also not cut back on essential services. He said that, as with grocery stores and home improvement stores, the demand for and cost of providing services will continue to rise.
Perhaps recognizing that the commission is divided, Sager said the county commission is “a long way from putting a ribbon on this package.”
Board member Carolyn Campbell, D-Crystal Lake, said there had been a “no” for 10 years. In voting on the 2023 budget, the county commission approved the first tax increase in 10 years.
“We’re talking about a gas tax, a motor fuel tax. We’re in that position because we’ve been saying no for 10 years,” Campbell said.
For the past 10 years, Campbell said, the county has continued to postpone equipment purchases.
“There are consequences when we keep saying ‘no’. We need to be fiscally responsible. No one wants to say ‘yes’, but we keep saying ‘no’ too many times.” If you go too far, you end up costing taxpayers a lot more than just making sure you maintain what you need,” Campbell said.
Campbell said they are talking about increasing the levy to ensure the county can cover salaries and other expenses. Campbell said the county is “significantly underpaying” state’s attorneys and public defenders. Earlier this year, the county commission approved pay increases for employees.
Campbell added that the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office has strived to maintain the same level of service despite not having the necessary deputy staffing. This year, the Sheriff’s Office requested funding for three new deputy roles, and many board members expressed support for the roles.
“I think this is an important thing that we need to fund right now,” Campbell said.
The budget and levy will be discussed at next week’s full county commission meeting, and the budget will undergo a 30-day review later this month before being voted on in November.
The County Commission is scheduled to vote on the budget and levy in mid-November, shortly after half of the board and the board president are re-elected on Nov. 5. McHenry County’s fiscal year begins Dec. 1 and the new board’s term begins Dec. 2.
