Grundy County finance committee backs 5% nonunion pay increase, forwards tentative budgets and levy worksheet to full board

The Grundy County Finance Committee voted to recommend a 5% pay increase for nonunion employees effective Dec. 1, 2025, and a 3% increase for Dec. 1, 2026, and forwarded tentative amended FY2025 and original FY2026 budgets and an updated tax-levy worksheet to the full county board on Oct. 21, 2025.

The wage recommendation, contained in a resolution in the committee packet, was presented as aligning nonunion pay increases with recent inflation and anticipated union contract outcomes. Committee members voted to recommend the resolution to the full board; the motion was made by Jerry and seconded by Jeff and the committee chair announced the motion carried.

Finance director Matt told the committee that general fund revenue through September totaled about $18,242,000 (about 86% of the budget) while expenditures were about $16,321,000 (about 76%). "General fund revenue as we reported is coming in well and anticipated to be well above the original budget," Matt said. He said the county remains in a strong fiscal position largely because of higher sales tax and land‑use revenue.

The committee also reviewed a tax levy worksheet showing levy requests of $15,184,150, an increase of $391,000 (about 2.65%) from the 2024 tax extension. Matt said he used a 5% placeholder for preliminary assessments; with a larger assessed value increase the county's tax rate would fall and the worksheet currently results in a 2.24% decrease in the tax rate.

Committee members reviewed tentative budget worksheets for the amended FY2025 and the FY2026 original budgets. The FY2025 amended general fund shows projected net income of $226,430 and the general fund cash balance is projected to be just under an eight‑month reserve. The FY2026 original general fund expenses are projected at $23,323,000, a roughly 8.3% increase from the 2025 budget, with increases attributed to cost‑of‑living adjustments, higher health insurance costs, placeholders for a commercial/industrial revaluation and accounting software implementation.

A county member who reviewed cost‑of‑living history noted county COLA payments since 2020 total about 19%, while CPI‑type measures rose about 23.9% over the same period; the 5% 2025 increase was presented as narrowing that gap. The committee was also told that the personnel committee had recommended the nonunion increase favorably.

The committee moved the tentative amended FY2025 and original FY2026 budgets to the full board with positive recommendations (motion by Jerry, second by Tina). Several other routine claims and vouchers were approved by voice vote at the start of the meeting.

The committee did not set final levy or budget approval; those actions are subject to full board review and final vote in upcoming county board sessions.