Will County mental health board seeks 0.04% levy, proposes $5 million in sustained grants and $1 million for fire-based "community cares" program

Tina Mackey presented the Will County Community Mental Health (708) Board's proposed 2026 budget and tax-levy request at the Will County Board Executive Committee meeting on Sept. 11, saying the board recommends a 0.04% levy to sustain newly funded programs and to restore a $4 million annual payment to the Will County Health Department. The board also proposes at least $5 million in grants for community programs and has included $1 million to support and expand fire-department '2community cares'2 initiatives.

Mackey told the committee the board has committed $5.1 million to the current 2025 grant cycle (April 15, 2025—April 14, 2026) and that the board paid the Will County Health Department $3,750,000 at the start of the 2025 fiscal year. She said the board collected approximately $4 million in the first half of the levy and recommended restoring the $4 million stipend paid in the first year of the levy to sustain new programs, staff and services at the health department.

The 708 board presented five strategic priorities derived from a 2024 needs assessment: crisis supports and service gaps, intellectual/developmental…