KANE COUNTY, Ill. — The County Board’s executive committee spent the bulk of its Aug. 6 meeting debating the county board office’s proposed 2026 expense budget, focusing on three contested items: a $127,500 consulting engagement for a strategic plan (budgeted at $100,000 for 2026), a $30,000 internship placeholder, and the shift of a $120,000 government-relations contract to the county board’s budget after other elected offices stopped contributing.

The board packet showed a proposed general-fund allocation for the county board office of $124,099,471 (countywide total referenced during the meeting). Committee members asked for specifics about how much of the strategic-plan consulting work would be charged to 2025 versus 2026; staff said the consultant’s total engagement is $127,500 and some work may be charged to 2025 while remainder is budgeted for 2026.

Several members recommended funding the strategic plan and the internship from the county’s riverboat (special) funds rather than the general fund; the county’s riverboat reserves were described in committee as having discretionary capacity. Board members debated whether using riverboat dollars would be appropriate and whether reallocating those funds would set a precedent for other departments seeking similar support.

Board members also noted that the county had previously budgeted portions of the lobbyist contract to other elected offices (sheriff, coroner, state's attorney). Those offices told staff they would not continue to contribute; the legislative committee amended the resolution so the county board budget would carry the full contract cost. The county’s communications and legislative staff said the contract is seen as valuable to the county’s interests.

The executive committee did not finalize the board-office budget on Aug. 6. Members asked staff to try two things: (1) pursue riverboat funding for the strategic plan and possible internship funding and (2) return with a revised budget that reflects any confirmed transfers or cuts (for example, lower travel/conference line items). Several members said they would prefer internal, identifiable cuts rather than relying on reserve transfers; others stressed the need to preserve the strategic-plan work already under contract.

Ending: Committee members scheduled follow-up work to resolve the budget questions before the full board votes in September; staff will provide a breakdown of what portion of the strategic-plan contract is chargeable to 2025 and what remains for 2026 and will submit a riverboat-funding application if requested by the executive committee.