The Grundy County Finance Committee on Sept. 8 reviewed updated FY2026 revenue and expenditure projections and voted to freeze agency contributions at 2025 levels while staff continues the amended-budget process.
Committee members opened the meeting with an overview from K., Finance Director, who said revenue to date totals $14,325,000 (about 68% of the year) and expenditures total $14,478,000 (about 67%). K. told the committee that continued sales-tax growth and land-use fees have improved the revenue outlook and that the county expects to finish the fiscal year slightly under budget.
The finance director said the draft FY2026 budget now includes three sizable placeholders: professional services for commercial/industrial assessments, implementation costs for replacement accounting software, and conversion of the county's agenda and minute tracker (IQM2). The presenter noted the combined estimated cost for the three placeholder items was described in the presentation as "around 4,000," and said each will require separate future board action.
The committee discussed agency contribution requests totaling $95,834 for 2026, a $32,500 increase from the $63,334 contributed in 2025. Committee member expressed concern about the size of several increases and asked whether presenters at last month's staff presentations had justified the larger requests. Some members suggested freezing contributions rather than approving across-the-board increases; others provided historical perspective on past contribution levels.
After discussion, the committee approved a motion to freeze agency contributions at the same dollar amounts as 2025. The committee chair called for a motion to freeze contributions at last year's levels; the motion was seconded and carried.
The finance director asked department heads to finish reviewing current-year activity for the amended budget; she emphasized the FY2026 numbers remain tentative while departments complete their reviews.
Why it matters: The committee's decision to freeze agency contributions contains immediate budgetary savings and sends a policy signal to local agencies asking for larger county support. The placeholders for three countywide projects will increase FY2026 spending if later approved, and the committee deferred detailed approval of those projects to future, separate board actions.
Committee action and next steps: Staff will complete the department-level amended-budget reviews and return with formal proposals for the placeholder items when detailed cost and implementation plans are available. The freeze on agency contributions will be forwarded as the committee's recommendation to the full board as part of the FY2026 budget process.