Kane County board approves limited CPI increase as residents press against new taxes

Kane County Board members voted on Aug. 12 to include a consumer price index (CPI) increase as a revenue option for the county—s 2026 budget. The board took the step after hearing more than three dozen public commenters, many of whom urged board members to cut spending instead of seeking new revenue.

The CPI measure (resolution 25-276) is pitched by county leaders as a modest tool to keep county budgets aligned with inflation. Supporters said the increase would help cover predictable higher costs for contracts, wages and services. "The CPI is a modest tool given to governments to try and keep up with the expenses we cannot avoid," County Board Chair Deborah Allen said during discussion.

Why it matters: Kane County is facing an operating shortfall in the coming fiscal year and a series of cost pressures elected officials described as largely outside local control: rising vendor and benefit costs, multiyear labor contracts and inflation-related price increases. The board's decision narrows the options staff must use as they finalize the 2026 budget, but it does not finalize spending levels.

Public comment: Dozens of residents spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting. Victoria Bell told the board, "Only 4% of our tax bill goes to the county," and urged awareness of where local property-tax dollars land. Patricia Berthoud said voters had rejected a retail tax increase on April 1 and argued that the board should not pursue new levies: "We will no longer be your blank check," she told members. Linda Stone and Debbie Kanarowski urged spending cuts, hiring freezes and other internal savings rather than new revenue.

Elected officials also debated the tradeoffs. Treasurer Lawson defended the county's past fiscal management and urged a practical approach to balancing the budget. Several board members warned that ad hoc revenue fixes would not cure a structural mismatch between expenses and revenues over multiple years; others said modest increases were preferable to staff cuts or layoffs.

Outcome and next steps: The board approved the CPI measure as part of the budget process (resolution 25-276). The vote incorporated a set of budget-direction items discussed in committee; the CPI is an option the board directed staff to use in preparing the 2026 budget. The finance committee will continue to refine revenue and expenditure projections as elected officials and department heads present final budgets later this month.

The board emphasized this was a revenue-direction vote and not the final 2026 budget. Final adoption of the budget remains a separate vote later in the fall.

Ending: With the county's fiscal gap still unresolved, board members said they expect additional public hearings and more targeted budget decisions before final votes later in the year.