[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6227859,"mediaKeyId","3479057-4d74bd1cb7668cad775b325d1987dc33","parentId",3479057,"title","Veterans commission reports $3.7 million in new benefits and Aurora VA clinic expansion","audioSeconds",105,"startMs",3215000,"endMs",3320000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3479057-4d74bd1cb7668cad775b325d1987dc33&start=3215&end=3320","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3479057-4d74bd1cb7668cad775b325d1987dc33/thumbnail_3215000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6227859/Kane-County/Illinois/Veterans-commission-reports-37-million-in-new-benefits-and-Aurora-VA-clinic-expansion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227859-e865bc6519ebcf05b6a6360db3f231af/orig.mp4?Expires=1776085108&Signature=b8FBoTdX9fEfdrAq0giufXDWzAQVZn-i8ev60DCAxkRXhpgp16hA-Xu0NWAz9uZBJIWf7aWxBqxKmr8eNgm~SN7y1YiK0Ylnq-sbqpoRRNhJpI2EGnbjnKJJ2epG0XqlTyP7kmRTW3~h9Z8g6wbE8qDcS2t0qEcfpxvpwMHWGwIHyAC-FbqaJrCLa-QE7adz~uSQcoR6q3aEiTP24WJRiDphSCV6YFpZKTVpDR6-w0o4LO7o2FZnOP7NiXkfrOuX8VXjz~xU560F78~QPJFgEhJu6pGf-Efe-Ma~EVSC0f3XfgmkJxFf2EH0J5UkTotdluDSbWdaXBBLph9PgGF2jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kane County, IL","date","2025-05-24T01:45:03.88Z","article","Jake Zimmerman, representing the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission, told the Public Service Committee on May 22 that the commission has brought in more than $3,700,000 in new benefits year‑to‑date and currently has 389 claims pending with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Zimmerman said the commission’s compensation claims are processed faster than state averages—\"our compensation claims are going 15 days on average faster than the average Illinois veterans\"—and pension claims are also moving faster than statewide averages. He said those quicker processing times translate into earlier benefit flows to veterans.

Zimmerman also described expansion work at the Aurora VA Clinic (located in North Aurora), saying the facility remodeling adds more than 4,200 square feet of clinical space and doubles the clinic’s size to include primary care, physical therapy, women's health, audiology, nutrition and lab services. A tentative grand opening was scheduled for Thursday, May 29 at 11 a.m., pending final approvals.

Zimmerman encouraged committee members to attend county Memorial Day ceremonies highlighted in the county newsletter and invited members to the clinic opening if it proceeds.

No committee action was requested or taken; the report was informational and the commission will continue its outreach and casework.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","KC Public Service Committee May 22 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission reported $3.7 million in new benefits this year, 389 claims pending at the VA, and a pending grand opening for an expanded Aurora VA clinic in North Aurora that adds about 4,200 square feet of clinical space.","taxTitle","Kane County, Illinois","taxId",12845,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6227864,"County clerk reports higher service demand, passport revenue gains and small election grants",264,3375000,3639000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3479057-4d74bd1cb7668cad775b325d1987dc33&start=3375&end=3639","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3479057-4d74bd1cb7668cad775b325d1987dc33/thumbnail_3375000.jpg","/articles/6227864/Kane-County/Illinois/County-clerk-reports-higher-service-demand-passport-revenue-gains-and-small-election-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227864-9bc57a9d59cb54a6d41bb4f8ac2f9fef/orig.mp4?Expires=1776085108&Signature=ZB5Zyw1s6XD25AQ15nSwPbAAoVChce8pX0hGxsAQlb0XzqKYLq~EW5bJaZJVeHknmSBsGNVda0G2Xey92PUSwS1ZxR32CbPz6ZqxEphcKYU7E0IIgATxwfRjVbzaHbaNQQTJCUnsJlBfCApo7m7Cx6jSsuIEPzmTFTqiywg7cndjZo6fuEEND2zUOsljclVdZLs77YT6SS6avsqYixscBqM94kFrs1suAuAF~ywrVcDOhiJBP6ZciVMudCa8pRiZlaGisOtfTKmvOkXjideIcTxcEzspsgfbIfGzrqvcCia0ck3lD6lNl4XQpUTrNy03321gVQIUsxfVtdw-IavncQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Clerk Jack Pollack told the Public Service Committee on May 22 that clerks’ office activity is up across several service lines and that recently obtained grants and reimbursements have reduced pressure on the general fund.

Pollack said passport applications and other record services are ahead of prior years: \"the 32 hundred 9, we've had records each month. We're 23% ahead of fiscal 24 at this point,\" he said, adding the office was serving roughly 21% more customers than last year. Pollack said those fee revenues reduce net cost pressure on the county budget.

On election administration, Pollack noted his office mails required items to voters, including voter registration cards and the biannual permanent vote‑by‑mail notice. He asked residents who receive voter registration cards for people who no longer live at a household to mark the card \"voters moved, no longer registered, and send it right back to us,\" to help maintain accurate voter rolls. Pollack said the voter registration mailing is also an opportunity to include information about becoming an election judge and early‑voting sites.

Pollack also reported a $30,000 reimbursement grant from the State Board of Elections for election judges and reiterated that the CTCL grant discussed in public comment is a reimbursable award he said the clerk’s office is spending in line with the grant agreement. “In terms of spending the money, yes, the clerk's office will spend the money. The grant has been spent according to the agreement and will be spent according to the agreement,” Pollack said.

Committee members asked for a written plan or memo on any remaining CTCL funds and their line‑item uses; Pollack and others agreed to provide more detail so members could review how grant reimbursements and equipment purchases affect the county’s fiscal picture.

Pollack’s report also noted the clerk’s office helps collect taxes in Aurora and continues outreach about elections and services; no ordinance or change to election practice was proposed at the meeting.","Kane County Clerk Jack Pollack reported increased customer service volumes—passports, marriage/birth/death records—grant reimbursements for election judges, and routine voter‑registration mailings that include election information; he confirmed election‑related CTCL grant spending followed the award terms.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6227869,"Committee votes to place noncitizen‑voting proclamation on June agenda",222,3874000,4096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3479057-4d74bd1cb7668cad775b325d1987dc33&start=3874&end=4096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3479057-4d74bd1cb7668cad775b325d1987dc33/thumbnail_3874000.jpg","/articles/6227869/Kane-County/Illinois/Committee-votes-to-place-noncitizenvoting-proclamation-on-June-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227869-af442e33ac6551a934ef1f8a003c752e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776085108&Signature=FS4AyViAUcF2~SFuFLUca0Gg9VQ~hmnisRTn9rR0JtHQvXlrLFgRVKqyZ4XLkJvSyM54dk3CdH8AIRGKGvBWMXQG6ImOyUu7qcesLxgkiIpXHiE54EdIed9sgd2G3GE0XkRVO93bRnr-gjOKda-a8vjeS1F4p06-DWJ3bF-cHZxL9QjKEv1Wn1mEgQ6mox7SImW-0IldQOUqPgOQKBG5fvhfgFF0h29rU0nDLOzm1pSruy~42hzN3BFyVGwcucKp83ddr8ofbdgJL~VQ9MzPsHEmEScPc672eeARtW-ItCnGEFtgisU6It1xZBMqvZUQfTe-2KLdNOqgYl6YCQFP4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kane County Public Service Committee voted on May 22 to put a proclamation opposing noncitizen voting onto the committee’s June agenda and, if approved there, to forward it to the full county board.

Committee member David Young made the motion under other business and a colleague seconded it. During discussion members said proclamations are traditionally celebratory and sometimes used as public statements; one member said they planned to vote against the proclamation if it reached the committee floor.

Clerk roll call was recorded for the motion to place the proclamation on the June committee agenda. The transcript shows recorded responses including \"Ummes, yes; Lewis, no; Surges, yes; Tepe, no; Young, yes; Sanchez, yes,\" after which the chair said, \"It passes.\" The motion was therefore approved to add the proclamation to the Public Service Committee’s June agenda for further consideration.

The proclamation itself was described by proponents as a statement that the county ‘‘disapproves of noncitizens voting’’ and an expression that the county supports only legal voting. Committee members noted the item is a proclamation and not a change in law; no ordinance, code change, or enforcement mechanism was adopted at the meeting.

The committee did not take further formal action on the substance of the proclamation during this meeting; the item will return for committee consideration in June.","The Kane County Public Service Committee voted to place a proclamation opposing noncitizen voting on its June agenda. The motion passed on a roll call recorded during \"other business.\"",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6227874,"Kane County assessor highlights DevNetWedge tools and low complaint rates after 2023 general assessment",269,1581000,1850000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3479057-4d74bd1cb7668cad775b325d1987dc33&start=1581&end=1850","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3479057-4d74bd1cb7668cad775b325d1987dc33/thumbnail_1581000.jpg","/articles/6227874/Kane-County/Illinois/Kane-County-assessor-highlights-DevNetWedge-tools-and-low-complaint-rates-after-2023-general-assessment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227874-94140eeafbe6ec7e1dcbd04c94429927/orig.mp4?Expires=1776085108&Signature=MX2OjOpuoWzi0x7gXSe1LNQt~B1OapdEKi3XY66JGmLb7iekmWPk9R83BF~SfWkarhae6NGlVM8g7H7wJc4beSJh0b2sp90zAlxFXFBDkzv3vd8Zu5Zfu~JLE8eUI6jxfSom7uvCGjRtWuGzjk~qk~ouzjja3Yl6q1ZJ2IcWRjsY~A18k7~opBZkEzK3d90GFhzppZR8P2q-2MU3kRCRQQysewa-3nMsmm-StZfWq1CFPfgD~tjAfSdknqxqwEyLHlvYOWTcW4HQ8-PrbrF73iDZb-i-88P09yujPeOJej7F2UXX8IDQWmzGHLQsDpoNtGYNcNmxLRBZpDoHY3t2zQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Supervisor of Assessments Mark Armstrong told the Kane County Public Service Committee on May 22 that the assessor’s office is using online tools and short videos to help taxpayers understand the assessment complaint process and reduce filings.

Armstrong said the county’s DevNetWedge site had 91,135 unique visits in April and 425,135 lookups of property data; he said those tools let taxpayers view three years of local sales data, file assessment complaints, and watch a series of six short how‑to videos. Armstrong said the videos and online self‑service options reduce staff workload and that homeowners who file complaints after using the tools have a higher success rate than those who hire attorneys.

Armstrong provided statistics for 2024 showing 511 residential complaints countywide—about 0.32% of properties—and explained the normal pattern of higher complaint volumes in the year following a general assessment (2023 was a general assessment year). He also described how taxing districts and taxpayers can file complaints and noted that local taxing bodies rarely use that authority in Kane County.

Committee members asked about year‑over‑year complaint counts, the property tax appeal process and timing, and whether institutional property owners use simple metrics such as “cost per door” as valuation inputs. Armstrong said most granular valuation questions are handled by township assessors; his office performs review and equalization and maintains public data.

Armstrong encouraged board members and the public to use the county’s online resources and the Kane County Quick Guide to Property Taxes, which includes extension totals and contact information for major taxing districts. He said those tools are designed to reduce unnecessary appeals and to direct taxpayers to the appropriate taxing district for substantive budget or service questions.

Armstrong said he will discuss in a future meeting the importance and cost implications of late tax bills and noted the bureaucratic and travel costs associated with Property Tax Appeal Board hearings in Springfield.

The committee did not take a formal vote on assessment policy at this meeting; members requested continued public outreach and offered to meet with assessors or township representatives on specific valuation concerns.","Supervisor of Assessments Mark Armstrong showed county board members online tools and instructional videos designed to reduce assessment complaints, and provided statistics on site usage and complaint rates following the 2023 general assessment.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6227878,"Kane County clerk office grant spending questioned; clerk says awards spent per agreement",3000,715000,3715000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3479057-4d74bd1cb7668cad775b325d1987dc33&start=715&end=3715","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3479057-4d74bd1cb7668cad775b325d1987dc33/thumbnail_715000.jpg","/articles/6227878/Kane-County/Illinois/Kane-County-clerk-office-grant-spending-questioned-clerk-says-awards-spent-per-agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227878-73bf2f32a317f8d4f2c9d4be8a7ae8d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1776085108&Signature=MBD3c6FMFwVSdxwyTt1gU7k5e3M3PydzLihh-ydsse-TMdbkVeiKm25VnHxqfd22tsaa7lCeP5fuqVlqMaYDNoVn5t~gFNMYebZq8lCd02Lbf8oxAY00fV4JFiGYQ85MGguyV1zYzAIbLp5C5si1WBP5tkRr9~QHsGXE9Xac6j0-aUj~C1bz~PSG2VnqIg5ULXs3ZZl2~ThPZzQjtI2CHW2Wp14B5WvCDKXBawp6vw-MVKiZ1nwVNfDH4UYiZ0TWVDJCg5mBmR-WFGJcDw7fZ02K0Pz1U-~pf7Z5G8MBF0Cgusz-mJDy41wvURBOo4qvzXgCmRqdMqCYAOlh1oonrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A public commenter told the Kane County Public Service Committee on May 22 that the county clerk’s office had received a $2,000,000 award from the Center for Tech and Civic Life and asked where the funds would be spent as the grant deadline approaches.

The question matters because the grant—described by the commenter as a $2,000,000 CTCL award to the clerk’s office—was originally slated to be spent by the end of 2024 and reported in January 2025, and the commenter said that schedule had been extended to July 31, 2025.

During public comment the speaker said the award included two disbursements, “$650,000 in July of 2023 and then $1,350,000 in December of 2023,” and reported information from Kathleen Hopkinson that “$400,000 was allocated, and the rest of the money has not been allocated, $1,600,000.” The commenter asked whether any unspent grant funds could be returned to the general fund to help with county budget constraints and said they would meet with county staff to follow up.

County Clerk Jack Pollack responded in the committee’s business portion, saying the clerk’s office had used grant funds according to the award. “The grant has been spent according to the agreement and will be spent according to the agreement,” Pollack said, adding that the grant is reimbursable and that equipment and allowable staff costs were the types of expenditures budgeted in the award. Pollack said the clerk’s office had spent money on election equipment and that the reimbursed funds help relieve pressure on the general fund.

Committee members asked for more specifics. A request was made that the clerk or finance provide a memo or status update on remaining grant funds and the planned expenditures; the committee chair asked that an update be provided next month so members could see the current plan.

No formal vote or other binding action on reassigning funds was taken during the meeting; committee members said they wanted clearer accounting and a plan for the remaining funds before any discussion of returning money to general revenues.

The clerk’s office and other staff named in the discussion were identified as the appropriate contacts for follow-up information about exact line‑item spending and whether any extension or amendment to the grant agreement had been sought with the funder.

Committee members and the public will revisit the question when the clerk’s office provides the requested memo or presentation at a future meeting.","A public commenter and committee members pressed the county over a $2 million Center for Tech and Civic Life grant to the county clerk's office. County Clerk Jack Pollack said portions were spent on election equipment and that the grant remains subject to the award agreement and deadline.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Veterans commission reports $3.7 million in new benefits and Aurora VA clinic expansion

County clerk reports higher service demand, passport revenue gains and small election grants

Committee votes to place noncitizen‑voting proclamation on June agenda

Kane County assessor highlights DevNetWedge tools and low complaint rates after 2023 general assessment

Kane County clerk office grant spending questioned; clerk says awards spent per agreement