Will County finance committee confronts $8.9M gap after 0% levy estimate; members spar over cuts, reserves and cannabis fund uses

Will County Finance Committee members spent the meeting weighing the budget consequences of a prior board vote to publish an estimated aggregate levy at 0%, which county finance staff said creates an approximate $8.9 million gap versus the county executive’s proposed 2% levy.

Kevin (staff) told the committee that last Thursday the board passed an estimated aggregate levy to meet Truth‑in‑Taxation notice requirements; that vote is procedural and gives the public notice of the proposed levy, but the final levy and appropriations will be approved in a subsequent meeting and will be broken out by fund. “That is all you did last Thursday was pass an estimated aggregate of all the levy funds,” Kevin said.

Rishon (finance staff) and other budget officials detailed the arithmetic members later debated. Rishon said the difference between the county executive’s proposed figures and the board’s 0% estimate was roughly $8.9 million and noted the final levy extension is set by the county clerk and may vary when final numbers…