The Kane County Finance and Budget Committee on Oct. 21 voted to increase the county motor-fuel tax by 3%, approved a grocery retailers occupation tax for unincorporated areas and moved the proposed fiscal year 2026 appropriations onto the 15-day public display required before a Nov. 10 final vote.

The committee chair presented a draft balanced 2026 budget of $126,954,783 and told members the draft reflects department cooperation while noting outstanding negotiation items. “We have a discrepancy of $7,985,154. Under certain conditions … we have agreed upon reductions of $5,180,226,” the chair said, adding a remaining gap of $2,804,928 and a possible reserve use “somewhere between $0 and $4,000,000 worst case scenario.”

Why it matters: Committee members said the new taxes are intended to close a budget gap without deeper cuts to departments that committee members say have already been reduced, particularly road resurfacing. Opponents in public comment urged the committee to look for internal cuts instead of new taxes.

In public comment before votes, Steve Loeffler of the City of St. Charles voiced support for the motor-fuel increase, saying the cost to an average driver would be small and the revenue would help restore funding for courts and public defenders. “I’m here today to speak out in support of the increase in the motor fuel, gas tax,” Loeffler said. Resident Ginger Romano urged the county to cut spending and to consider alternatives such as vouchers rather than new taxes: “The county continues to spend as if they’re still getting ARPA funds,” she said. Brian Anderson of Sugar Grove and Michelle Battag of St. Charles also urged scrutiny of expenses and local spending priorities.

How the package is intended to work: Committee members said the 3% motor-fuel tax is expected to generate about $6.5 million earmarked for the county department that maintains roads (referred to in discussion as KDOT). Committee members Teppi and Leonard explained that $4,000,000 of RTA sales-tax revenue would be redirected to the general fund to cover safety and other general-fund needs; committee discussion described this as an additional transfer on top of prior RTA allocations. Members emphasized that the full county board and the executive committee must still consider the measures.

Legal and procedural notes: The chair said state statute requires the executive committee to approve placing the budget on display; committee members asked the county’s State’s Attorney’s office to confirm whether the motor-fuel tax language includes diesel vehicles and gave staff 24 hours to resolve that question before the measures move further.

Votes at a glance: the committee recorded the following actions during the meeting.
- Resolution authorizing a 3% increase in the county motor-fuel tax — approved. Recorded roll-call included Member Jubi (aye), Member Lewis (aye), Member Teppi (aye), Member Sanchez (aye) and Member Leonard (aye). The measure was described in discussion as expected to yield roughly $6.5 million for road maintenance with $4 million redirected from RTA funds to the general fund.
- Ordinance establishing a county grocery retailers occupation tax and a county grocery service occupation tax for unincorporated Kane County — approved. Committee discussion said estimated revenue for unincorporated areas ranged from $40,000 to $400,000. Recorded roll-call: Member Lewis (yes), Member Pepe/Pepe (yes), Member Sanchez (yes), Member Leonard (no). (Transcript shows Leonard voting no by phone.)
- Three resolutions authorizing budget adjustments for the public defender’s office, court services and the judiciary — postponed to Oct. 29. Committee members and the affected elected officials agreed to delay the votes because the overall budget was still being finalized.
- Ordinance adopting the fiscal year 2026 annual appropriations budget — the committee approved an amendment correcting the date to Nov. 10 and approved forwarding the ordinance for subsequent votes. The ordinance will be on the Nov. 10 agenda for final action.
- Resolution approving the fiscal year 2026 budget for 15-day public display — approved. The chair said, if the executive committee approves, the budget will be displayed for public review for 15 days before the Nov. 10 vote.

What committee members said: Member Teppi, who co-led the funding proposal with Member Leonard, framed the gas-tax increase and the RTA transfer as a combined approach to close the budget gap while preserving capacity for road resurfacing. Member Giube (recorded in the transcript as having withheld support for the tax but voting to move it forward) said he historically opposes a gas tax but agreed to send the measure forward for the full board to decide.

Next steps: The measures will proceed to the executive committee for review; if approved there, the budget will be placed on public display for 15 days ahead of the Nov. 10 commission vote. The committee requested clarification from the State’s Attorney’s office about whether the motor-fuel tax language covers diesel vehicles and directed staff to provide that clarification within 24 hours.

Ending: Committee members repeatedly urged departments and elected officials to continue negotiating the remaining budget gaps and said they expect further adjustments before final adoption on Nov. 10.