[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6224229,"mediaKeyId","3552185-2fb8ff316ffd04396b907b8c86a42b4f","parentId",3552185,"title","Kane County committee approves three-year contract with sheriff’s peace officers","audioSeconds",378,"startMs",3772000,"endMs",4150000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3552185-2fb8ff316ffd04396b907b8c86a42b4f&start=3772&end=4150","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3552185-2fb8ff316ffd04396b907b8c86a42b4f/thumbnail_3772000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6224229/Kane-County/Illinois/Kane-County-committee-approves-three-year-contract-with-sheriffs-peace-officers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224229-b7c5d434c2986b0ede7b8314d6d68aa1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771095277&Signature=UTTj58~1mpLqYflI1r-N-84UbNdywMgFmp3nm0szq~pdXmN0EWyumGyMm8GBVZQN5YxP2jI2QYa9oIrKNMUfHXbXo7k1LzsWw0EYrONiR28iktnb7zkMdx6j3MrBZuT1Q9a4ut9bPL4sH8BxZ-0j8kf8RMowIoDlr8VVVbDG5KieleUF6dOu~ISJ6QiEh1CMGhPDdaRNIyedbuc8OT0mgPlBuPBexCED-Uzr1Mk-MsYE0rQ~yBETo1EXcQ84ivHD8AFMCCIJq1o~Oc2XEfHDgfcKzaYwUat~-OZFT2-JL-jqaIDhSIdjFx4jj-Rodkf5YrrkEVyXSsN5BLYfsTPicQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kane County, IL","date","2025-05-28T13:54:02Z","article","The Kane County Finance and Budget Committee on May 20 approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Kane County Sheriff’s Office peace officers, covering fiscal years 2025 through 2027. Committee members recorded the roll-call votes in the meeting packet and the motion passed.

Sheriff’s Office leadership told the committee the contract is a three-year deal with multi-year step increases; the sheriff argued the county’s deputies remain significantly below comparable pay in nearby McHenry County and described operational strains caused by understaffing. The sheriff said the office will absorb the cost in fiscal years 2025 and 2026 but that fiscal 2027 will be more challenging because of step increases as officers advance to higher pay steps.

Why it matters: County leaders said the contract addresses recruitment and retention concerns for deputies and correctional officers and that failing to conclude an agreement could trigger binding arbitration and potentially higher costs. The sheriff emphasized that deputies in Kane County do more with fewer resources and cited a recent department pursuit and arrest as evidence of the agency’s daily operational demands.

Committee members discussed budget implications and personnel-management options. Several members asked whether personnel reductions were constrained by collective-bargaining agreements; the sheriff said management is focusing on non-sworn staffing changes and voluntary buyout programs where feasible. The sheriff also said the office will explore other staffing efficiencies and noted that rank-and-file members supported the contract in the internal vote.

The committee’s vote approved the agreement; the committee chair said the contract would be reflected in larger budget planning going forward. The sheriff’s office and county finance staff will incorporate the agreement’s costs into subsequent budget drafts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","KC Finance Committee May 28 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Kane County Finance and Budget Committee on May 20 approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement for the sheriff’s office peace officers covering fiscal years 2025–2027, with the sheriff urging the committee the agreement is needed to remain competitive and maintain staffing.","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},6224234,"Kane County finance committee hears warnings on declining use tax, balanced-budget resolution fails",1373,2368000,3741000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3552185-2fb8ff316ffd04396b907b8c86a42b4f&start=2368&end=3741","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3552185-2fb8ff316ffd04396b907b8c86a42b4f/thumbnail_2368000.jpg","/articles/6224234/Kane-County/Illinois/Kane-County-finance-committee-hears-warnings-on-declining-use-tax-balanced-budget-resolution-fails","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224234-72f2ef2b31ed631886f75d3cda526ef8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771095277&Signature=ESyfkSOc-~RuzBw1ZmQqSQ6o1I9rHA84~Jm41n78ihiK~S6fj3skAPixW3LdHICRQ22iKI2VodZGOZKnTMUw2OXlpmPkssKXCqMeOrO1lhXODbgxhUO-wDAW4zD73AHT-vJjg6D4MoRZA4jmOmhTp0VUqGkLPMRhQQSfK9uViSP7rR5NR9BsJpdGY1guPgw7oj9~apVZC1XSKaUDAnL4sikZeHRpGacYmXohmt3CX48xZKzRAhEXJ6n4riaVrT8NmkRL5AZN6NEyVE9UpYoaFdTZuhiK2CI8YsYTRHiXfx8NIZ~AaZd-chRvXXuHyQ-Rhru5ucnxzrTxpGS8YCMzvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kane County finance officials told the Finance and Budget Committee on May 20 that a change in Illinois law that took effect Jan. 1, 2025 (Public Act 1030983) has materially reduced the number of transactions subject to the county’s local use tax and will likely reduce revenue by roughly $1 million or more in the current year.

Finance Director Kathy Hopkinson told the committee the Department of Revenue confirmed fewer transactions now qualify as use tax, producing statewide declines in use-tax collections; Hopkinson said Kane County’s local use-tax receipts have fallen sharply in recent months and the county may lose “probably a million or maybe more” this year from that single category. Hopkinson also warned that county cannabis tax receipts may be affected and said staff are still investigating monthly variance versus structural change.

Why it matters: The committee is drafting the fiscal 2026 budget amid an identified shortfall and calls from several members and public commenters for immediate expense reductions. Public commenters urged the board to adopt a 10% reduction target and to produce a monthly budget dashboard so board members and the public see department-level payroll, overtime and vacancy data.

Treasurer Laughlin told the committee the county has realized a large cumulative interest-income gain over recent years and provided figures to the committee packet. He said cumulative interest income for a multi-year span was about $45 million and cautioned that interest income is volatile and not a reliable long-term revenue source; the county’s investment manager projected $10–13 million of interest income next year with a working estimate of $10 million for the coming fiscal year.

Committee members and public commenters pressed for greater transparency. Several speakers, including public commenters Frank Esposito and Brian Anderson, urged immediate cuts and a publicly available dashboard of metrics (payroll, overtime, vacancy counts) to guide decisions. Board members discussed a working group (referred to in the meeting as a working group of finance staff and two board members) that will meet weekly to refine budget options and stressed the need to engage department heads on mandates and staffing choices.

The committee also debated a resolution titled “approval of balanced budget for Kane County fiscal year 2026,” which committee members described as a reiteration of the board’s statutory obligation to adopt a balanced budget. The resolution failed on a tie vote; committee members differed on whether the resolution’s language implicitly precluded use of reserves or simply restated the legal obligation to present a balanced budget.

Other operational items discussed: committee members asked about the county’s contract with accounting firm Lauterbach & Amen, which the finance director said is a one-year contract (effective mid-January) and has been providing monthly bank reconciliations, custodial account journal entries and other accounting support while the department pursues staff replacements. Hopkinson also told the committee the county will file an extension for the annual audit to complete outstanding items and expects to finish the audit in June.

The committee did not adopt the balanced-budget resolution; members signaled continued work through the finance working group and weekly meetings to refine cuts, examine mandates and produce more transparent budget reporting for the board and public.","Finance staff told the Kane County Finance and Budget Committee on May 20 that a January 2025 change in state law reduced taxable transactions and is likely to cut local use-tax receipts; the committee debated budget cuts and a resolution to reaffirm a balanced-budget obligation that failed on a tie vote.",{"_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},6224239,"Kane County finance panel rejects letter backing Elgin’s 12-year TIF extension",753,2617000,3370000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3552185-2fb8ff316ffd04396b907b8c86a42b4f&start=2617&end=3370","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3552185-2fb8ff316ffd04396b907b8c86a42b4f/thumbnail_2617000.jpg","/articles/6224239/Kane-County/Illinois/Kane-County-finance-panel-rejects-letter-backing-Elgins-12-year-TIF-extension","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224239-c1592fd53ab1ecf82bbb00080b1cecda/orig.mp4?Expires=1771095277&Signature=ChF8OUasQ7yiSd41UAoSRrGItpypEAa~ZEVcYjpIE22kHghcaW-JyJP5OdFjLk5i52c7T1pupsxyzKJ4dwamtCBrCxhgtDKDM6WpxWhtw1esVqOr8FluwAYWq2HZy343ou9u5PTEgTA6T5XdfYzyljxyOdb7EbASlrpGs3T1Dd4LEOsdNmOKmDjgQehUDUZ-upt9bwz~7mjIdsatcXwgqnc~4vxtwVI2IL02TkSbYE7a1mmpVwkQVlJ2c5IMWFUu91rswbmNe5jaMXPVkUbkdEnb2DkqfUyKlaAODFLUq~hrOztb~MPZ1cBk7zfZC5HL9mBYPl3tZ-V8DItvhQyqtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kane County Finance and Budget Committee voted on May 20 not to sign a letter of support for the City of Elgin’s request to extend its Central Area Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district by 12 years. The motion to authorize a letter backing the extension failed on a tie; the committee recorded two votes in favor, two opposed and two abstentions, which did not produce a majority of the quorum.

The issue drew public comment and a presentation from Elgin officials, who said the extension would let the city complete redevelopment projects that have already drawn private investment. A city representative told the committee Elgin has attracted roughly $55 million for Fountain Square redevelopment, $16 million for renovation of the Elgin Tower and $18 million for other downtown infrastructure and redevelopment, and argued the extension would restore the redevelopment opportunity that years of economic downturn erased.

Why it matters: County staff and some board members warned the extension would divert tax increment dollars away from Kane County and other taxing districts. The city projected the county would receive about $6.6 million of increment during the 12-year extension; without a TIF the county would instead receive about $11 million, producing a projected net county loss in the range of $4 million to $5 million over 12 years. Elgin offered a 10% surplus-sharing arrangement that the city estimated would yield the county roughly $650,000 over the extension period.

Public commenters urged the committee to refuse the endorsement. Jenny Mayer, a resident who addressed the committee during public comment, said a letter of support would be a political endorsement that improperly blesses the diversion of county tax revenue to municipal development accounts. Mayer told the committee the extension would “cost Kane County government $4,600,000” and, including forest preserve and pension impacts, “about $6,500,000 diverted away from essential public services.”

County members and staff debated the balance between long-term development and short-term revenue needs. Board member Bill Leonard said he could not support “giving up this money” while the county faces a financial shortfall. Assistant State’s Attorney Mark Armstrong advised that, by statute, the Illinois General Assembly is the only body that enacts TIF extensions but that, as a practical matter, the legislature has required letters of support from affected taxing districts; he characterized the city’s numbers as estimates subject to change.

The committee’s vote was procedural: approval would have authorized a letter of support to be forwarded with the city’s request to state lawmakers. The motion failed on a tie; the chair noted that the committee may still move the matter to the executive committee or to the full 24-member county board for further consideration.

Elgin Mayor David Kaplan (speaking at the meeting) emphasized the downtown redevelopment projects and said the city had pursued transparency in TIF agreements and would share surplus with taxing bodies under the proposed arrangement. Supporters at the meeting — including township trustees who told the committee their bodies planned to endorse the extension — argued the county could benefit later if redevelopment generates a larger tax base.

The item’s immediate effect is procedural: the committee did not approve the letter of support. The city may continue to pursue the extension at the state level; state law and customary legislative practice determine whether letters from local taxing districts influence final legislative action.","The Kane County Finance and Budget Committee on May 20 declined to approve a letter supporting the City of Elgin’s request to extend its Central Area Tax Increment Financing district 12 years, after public comment and debate about projected county revenue losses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kane County committee approves three-year contract with sheriff’s peace officers

Kane County finance committee hears warnings on declining use tax, balanced-budget resolution fails

Kane County finance panel rejects letter backing Elgin’s 12-year TIF extension