[{"_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",6166225,"mediaKeyId","5415916-c45b150a237208d41fa1384d55235808","parentId",5415916,"title","Lee County treasurer reports property-tax distribution coming, use‑tax shifts and budget timeline","audioSeconds",839,"startMs",143000,"endMs",982000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5415916-c45b150a237208d41fa1384d55235808&start=143&end=982","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5415916-c45b150a237208d41fa1384d55235808/thumbnail_143000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6166225/Lee-County/Illinois/Lee-County-treasurer-reports-property-tax-distribution-coming-usetax-shifts-and-budget-timeline","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166225-7b164f3be022dbad041a0ba21ce7e8b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770558640&Signature=TsR1s94mBNcMoXz-B0Tr2dNDc4FWV2m1EfI-L6SGvypMne8HkwsWHFhyTK7T607MCpRqM2FUOiVAE5PQ6K6K~3n1vWSp~L1wGFfamBaOK9SKp-orh95ofGD6jrFsECR~c4Kuut5t3ZZ-1wYBIsY8HNQhUFUlukMAHSQCosAxbYUIY-XFU3INLywBOevIgKIh-VaIgQekPD6cG2xzIFBreHROaJ3RWtBuTWLkyxA3F8H~nt6geG1fkK9XNTxOrvLiuRjOVRkx~a9rVB5pCbIT-QtomKLb7xN4ZV7bdvgE4s36tZHjaAyNDv2Rkf7QtucRKEG7uGCjdKV9Y1uRTfALkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lee County, IL","date","2025-07-18T04:04:02.13Z","article","Reid, speaking as the county treasurer, told the Board of Commissioners that Lee County will receive its first property‑tax distribution within the next one to two weeks and that staff will also receive the county's portion of that installment in that timeframe.
Treasurer's report: staff explained a timing difference on cash balances because the planned transfer from the public‑safety fund to county general to pay bonds (roughly a little over $1 million) had not yet been processed; completing that transfer would make current balances closer to the prior year's comparison. The treasurer told commissioners that overall expenditures are tracking near targets, though departments vary month to month.
Taxes and revenues: the treasurer said use‑tax receipts have fallen compared with prior months and asked staff to follow up with the state contact about reallocation timing of use tax and sales tax buckets. The treasurer noted that sales tax collections overall are up, with the public‑safety sales tax running nearly 10% higher in recent reports. Cannabis excise receipts were reported as stronger than expected and continuing to come in at steady levels.
Delinquencies and collections: staff said it was not yet clear whether the current delinquency percentage is higher than last year or whether more taxpayers chose to pay both installments upfront; staff committed to running more detailed reports on delinquencies.
Budget process and elections: department budget reviews are underway and staff said the first county budget overview meeting will occur in mid‑July (the treasurer's team and administration are assembling department submissions). On elections, the treasurer/clerks staff announced candidate packets will be ready August 5 and filing dates for county board seats were listed as October 27 through November 3; the meeting also included a list of upcoming open county board seats for the 2026 election cycle.
Procedural actions: the board approved the minutes (motion moved by Naylor and seconded by Kitzman) and later adjourned (motion carried).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lee County Finance Committee Meeting 07/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The treasurer reported that the county will receive its first property‑tax distribution within the next one to two weeks, noted timing-related cash-balance differences, said use‑tax receipts have declined while sales tax (especially the public-safety sales tax) is up, and previewed upcoming budget and election timelines.","taxTitle","Lee County, Illinois","taxId",58219,"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},6166231,"Lee County to move finance director under county administrator; resolution to appear on next agenda",496,2318000,2814000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5415916-c45b150a237208d41fa1384d55235808&start=2318&end=2814","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5415916-c45b150a237208d41fa1384d55235808/thumbnail_2318000.jpg","/articles/6166231/Lee-County/Illinois/Lee-County-to-move-finance-director-under-county-administrator-resolution-to-appear-on-next-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166231-6253b51dc72fba55af1221d0a5cf9dbc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770558640&Signature=BNubt1ywA9XQnjjNHB4Jg9YcOH8XV5UYD-jazpDwe5P8Emm8cDeE4zvtH-niMohov8oexrCDE~NN1N-aP7ccIWjGd~GfDhoGU4sDt4w0WqMIxeDqQhxcVf8AGj7WWMNaSw4JV4Za0L9cKa0xMDgeqojbr-bGlsY1SkUUMNFQEICXd6VMuPu0C09ixkq1F~fU7fF2UPDYsKP1vlsovbcbaP7y8hsvN~aZ0tbCuPFmCdketWH7knkPTJYpsnz4Grscg-awfdnOj-grz5Kwx3Cv3OCjRDf4IntiG2357jFXBpl5nFOsSoxtWQeWM4P01xmn~kcIPvOgQGutr1Q5nwLuXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lee County commissioners discussed a planned reorganization to move the finance director position from the treasurer's office to report directly to the county administrator and heard that a draft resolution and updated position description will be placed on next month's agenda for formal action.
Board members said the change is intended to establish clearer separation of duties between the elected treasurer and the county administration, standardize financial policy language, and reduce operational disruptions when elected officials change. Staff said day‑to‑day operations will remain largely the same and that the reorganization primarily alters reporting lines and policy ownership.
Officials said the move mirrors structures used by peer counties where a professional finance director reports to an appointed administrator, enabling consistent interdepartmental budgeting, accounting oversight and strategic financial planning. Staff noted that to implement the change they must update the county's financial policies and pass a resolution to formalize the reorganization; the draft resolution and policy redlines will be brought back at the next meeting for board action.
Why it matters: the change clarifies who is accountable for countywide financial policy and budgeting, and it aims to reduce operational risk during elected‑official transitions. Board members said the goal is continuity and clearer lines of authority, not an immediate change in daily tasks performed by current staff.
Next steps: staff will bring the draft resolution, the revised finance director position description and redlined financial policies to the board on the next regular agenda for consideration. If adopted, the county will update job descriptions and policies and incorporate the change into administrative organization charts.","County leaders presented a draft resolution to reorganize the finance director position from reporting to the elected treasurer to reporting to the county administrator, aiming to separate duties, professionalize financial oversight and reduce disruption when treasurer changes by election. The board will consider the resolution next month.",{"_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},6166235,"Lee County insurance committee reports 13.5% health-rate increase; committee recommends keeping GLP‑1 coverage",1076,988000,2064000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5415916-c45b150a237208d41fa1384d55235808&start=988&end=2064","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5415916-c45b150a237208d41fa1384d55235808/thumbnail_988000.jpg","/articles/6166235/Lee-County/Illinois/Lee-County-insurance-committee-reports-135-health-rate-increase-committee-recommends-keeping-GLP1-coverage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166235-48b122bd816c9c8414447d8eac626e07/orig.mp4?Expires=1770558640&Signature=nHmMz8D3HdC120svMBSrsxjBUn9EzhSQ7qHe2iAg94lD4S-HdRDSqYQav1kpgsYVDOR0B8sRkknkJCWvb-EXQGITI0LHem5NMU8fYyidiWw0ZcFpr0EhCcz7tIiT1jjPKI14Pw71yOGpykGaCjOO8W9rO9DrvsNszdO3k5X9Lodpatjtdj~a1GWYK2WamzTYCHKA3OAuUZxEUZ~xdlfuwEiGI--IVHgSLjX-4iXQA9mvLhK4wUC2JuPPNO62oDYW0VDFFUcc3jDqDy7QRWpPrtJp8vsJ0v0jxFSVxutdAsJB~hH~NXz683VtEkq-T83G5mcDG1sOxLbSotRG67JZWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lee County insurance officials told the Board of Commissioners that the county's medical insurance rates will rise about 13.5% for the next plan year, and the committee recommended retaining current coverage rather than removing GLP‑1 (weight‑loss) drugs.
The recommendation came after an insurance committee meeting in which the county's benefit consultant reviewed data showing higher claims and increased use of GLP‑1 drugs, which the committee said contributes to the premium rise alongside several large, one‑time claims. The committee advised the board to incorporate the higher rates into next year's budget rather than make immediate coverage changes.
Why it matters: a 13.5% jump in medical rates will increase county expenditures and affect the budget the board will adopt for FY 2026. Board members were told employees currently pay 25% of premiums and the county 75%; unless that ratio is changed, the county's share of expenses will rise.
At the meeting, the committee presented four rate options. Option 1 was to keep current coverage and accept the increase. Option 2 would remove GLP‑1 drug coverage and produce an estimated 3.5% rate reduction. Two other options would make coverage requirement changes and yield estimated 1% and 0.5% reductions. Committee members said the smaller savings did not justify administrative complexity or coverage gaps for employees. The deadline to remove GLP‑1 coverage (Option 2) was reported as July 31; other plan-change options have a September 12 deadline.
Committee members said the county's claims were roughly $3.5 million higher than the prior year and that enrollment grew about 3.2% with an average covered age of 33.2 years. The consultant reported about 18 employees were using GLP‑1 drugs in the plan data reviewed and that the consultant values the drug at roughly $1,250 per dose. Committee members also noted that many other pool members are seeing similar trends.
The county participates in a multi‑employer insurance pool, with Blue Cross Blue Shield administering the excess layer. Committee members said a standalone commercial policy considered in past procurements was materially more expensive than remaining in the pool, and that the pool has produced savings over time. The committee recommended deferring a market search until a full procurement process can be run next year and asked that the projected rate increases be reflected in the county's upcoming budget discussions.
Next steps: the committee's recommendation is to accept current coverage and include the 13.5% medical and a 9.5% dental increase in the FY 2026 budget. The insurance committee plans to revisit broader market review in 2026 and to present any formal proposals to the full board before changes are implemented.","The county's insurance committee reported a 13.5% increase in medical premiums for the coming year, driven in part by new GLP‑1 weight-loss drugs and several unusually large claims. The committee recommended no coverage changes and to absorb the increase in next year's budget; a final decision on one coverage-change option is due July 31.","actionData","errors"]

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Lee County treasurer reports property-tax distribution coming, use‑tax shifts and budget timeline

Lee County to move finance director under county administrator; resolution to appear on next agenda

Lee County insurance committee reports 13.5% health-rate increase; committee recommends keeping GLP‑1 coverage