The Grundy County Board voted to place the tentative FY2025 amended budget and the FY2026 proposed budget on file for public inspection and final approval next month, after receiving a presentation from county finance staff.

Finance director Matt Melvin told the board the FY2025 amended general fund revenues are estimated at $22,045,000 with expenditures of $21,232,000, leaving a net income of $226,000 and an ending cash balance of roughly $14.8 million. The FY2026 proposed general fund revenues are $22,397,000 and expenditures $23,323,000, producing a projected net loss of about $839,685 and an estimated ending cash balance of approximately $14.0 million, which the finance team said maintains a roughly 7.2‑month reserve consistent with county policy and a multi‑year plan to reduce debt service as bonds mature.

Separately, the board approved a personnel resolution setting non‑union employee wage increases of 5% effective Dec. 1, 2025 (FY2026) and 3% effective Dec. 1, 2026 (FY2027). County personnel staff said the two‑year resolution was presented to provide predictability after multiple years of higher increases; the resolution had unanimous favorable votes from the Personnel and Finance committees.

The board also approved a short technology managed services agreement with Simple Communications to continue providing IT services after an emergency transition earlier in the year. County leaders said the contracting model moves from an internal IT department to a contracted managed‑services model; staff estimated net IT costs would be slightly above prior internal costs in the short term but could stabilize as services and efficiencies are realized. The board approved the contract by roll call.

Other budget highlights presented by finance staff included a projected 2.65% tax levy request and department increases driven largely by professional‑services funding (including the commercial/industrial revaluation) and technology implementation costs. The tentative budgets were placed on file; final adoption is scheduled at a later meeting.

Provenance
- Topic introduction excerpt on budgets: "Included in the agenda packet... tentative FY2025 amended budget and tentative FY2026 budget..." (transcript segment starting at 1439.36).
- Topic finish excerpt on adoption: "I will entertain a motion to place, Matt's fiscal year... budget on file for final approval next month..." (transcript segment starting at 1843.34).