Finance committee agrees to budget for mandated veteran service officer despite state not fully funding position

Jim Gorman, the county’s veterans assistance coordinator, told the Finance Committee that Illinois statute requires counties to maintain a Veterans Assistant Commission and that a more recent state requirement creates a county‑level veteran service officer role that counties must provide, but which has not been fully funded by the state.

Gorman said the statute directs that the Veterans Assistant Commission be supported by a levy (historically about 0.02% of assessed valuation), and he described how the county currently provides food, limited utility and limited rent assistance, and van transportation to VA medical appointments. He said the new veteran service officer (VSO) position will be county employment and will require office space, equipment and training.

Officials reported the proposed FY26 budget includes a levy increase to move more county general funds into the veterans assistance line and a placeholder of $60,000 to cover salary and employer costs for the new position while final costs remain uncertain. Jeremy (county staff) said a likely salary range for the VSO would be $21–$22 per hour, producing a base salary in the low‑$40,000 range before pension and insurance, which is why the budget line was conservatively set higher to cover benefits and startup costs.

Committee members discussed options to seek state help and noted the attorney general’s office and other counties are addressing similar questions; Gorman said webinar training from the Attorney General’s office is scheduled for Sept. 4 to provide additional guidance. The committee voted without objection to include the VSO position in the proposed budget and to proceed with posting the job once funding placement was confirmed.