Farmers Weekly Review

By Nick Reiher

Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant has proposed an $824 million budget for Fiscal Year 2025, which also includes a drop in the county’s property tax rate.

The proposed budget includes a $273 million operating budget and $551 million for special revenue funds.

Bertino-Tarrant said the proposed budget does not, once again, include using the full amount of property taxes allowed. She recommended taking advantage of accessing 2 percent growth in inflation and new property.

“Because of our continued growth in residential property, our tax rate next year is again decreasing to .5101 percent, down from .5481 percent in this current year,” Bertino-Tarrant said during the presentation at the August 15 County Board meeting.

The budget proposed is up from $812 million during Fiscal Year 2024 and $782 Million in Fiscal Year 2023.

Her Fiscal Year 2024 proposal also included a drop in the county’s tax rate, from .5733 percent to .5498 percent.

The county’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget begins on Dec. 1, 2024. The County Board will vote on it at their Nov. 21, 2024, meeting.

Property taxes make up 40 percent of the county’s operating budget revenue, Bertino-Tarrant said, with much of the rest composed of intergovernmental transfers and service charges.

Sixty-three percent of the proposed budget funds 19 new judicial and public safety positions, including 13 court security officers in the Sheriff’s Department as part of the continued transition from deputies serving as courthouse security, which Bertino-Tarrant said will transition these Sheriff’s deputies to patrol and response roles.

“As we enter the budget season, I’m sure we’ll have open and lively discussion; in fact, I’m expecting it,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “But, please, let’s keep it based in the facts. The taxpayers deserve nothing less than the facts and truth about our revenue and expenses.

“And here are the facts: Yes, our budget looks different than other counties. There is no uniform budget presentation amongst counties. Our budget book in front of you is a comprehensive budget. Unlike some counties, such as DuPage (who exclude their Health Department and 911), our budget has always included a comprehensive format, including all dollars that flow in and out of our treasurer’s office.”

And after years of deferring capital improvements to keep the budget lower, Bertino-Tarrant said, the county needs to take action now.

“With our growing list of responsibilities and an ever-increasing population, we are at a pinnacle point where a lack of investment is unsustainable,” she said. “This is why we implemented a five-year Capital Improvement Plan to ensure that we can forecast our needs and begin to prioritize where our budget dollars can make the most impact.

“This type of planning leads to cost-savings and more responsible budgeting. For example, our Facilities Department has continued their partnership with our Resource Recovery and Energy Division to implement efficiency projects.

“We must continue to be mindful of these responsible budgeting strategies, while being forward-thinking about our needs.”

That includes overdue large-scale updates for the Sheriff’s Department and Adult Detention Facility, she said. “Unfortunately, we’re getting to the point that we can’t put scotch tape on some of these problems,” she said.

Despite political differences, Bertino-Tarrant said the county has made “tremendous progress” over the last few years, including building the first Renewable Natural Gas Plant in Chicagoland, which already has raised $12.9 million in gross revenue.

She also lauded the Will County Emergency Management Agency, which stood out during the Kankakee River flooding last winter, and the response to the storms carrying more than 30 tornadoes on July 15.

As budget discussions begin in County Board committees, Bertino-Tarrant asked for cooperation.

“Especially because we face so many important decisions on the horizon. We are at a point where the decisions we make today will determine the direction of our county for years to come.

“Because of this, I want to emphasize that our perspective as leaders needs to grow at the same rate, if not faster, than our county’s population. We need to challenge ourselves to expand our vision and think proactively about how we address challenges and changes in our communities.

“That also means expanding our vision beyond the perspective of something being a ‘County Executive’ or ‘County Board’ solution.

“All of us, and that includes the other countywide elected officials, need to work together in determining our vision for the county.”

Nick Reiher is editor of Farmers Weekly Review.