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Lee County board hears $1.5 million budget gap, 13% health-insurance increase
Summary
At a county board meeting, finance leaders reported an estimated $1.5 million shortfall for the coming budget year, a 13% rise in county health-insurance premiums and a proposed personnel reorganization that would move a financial position under the county administrator.
Lee County Board members were told the county faces an estimated $1,500,000 budget shortfall as they begin this year’s budget hearings, and that the county will see a 13% increase in employee health-insurance premiums.
The shortfall was presented during the board’s finance committee report, which officials said represents an early estimate as department-by-department hearings continue. The committee scheduled public budget hearings and line‑by‑line reviews with department heads in August and encouraged board members to attend.
The deficit matters because Illinois law requires counties to adopt a balanced budget; the finance committee said it will work through revenues and expenses in coming weeks to reach balance. The committee’s summary said sales and income tax receipts remain strong and are partly offsetting declines in local-use tax and PPRT receipts.
Paul (treasurer) said the county completed its first property‑tax installment collection cycle on schedule and that distributions to taxing districts will begin imminently. “Our first installment was due June 27,” Paul said, adding that the next installment is expected Sept. 5. He told the board collections are slightly ahead of expectations.
The board also discussed a proposed hierarchical change in county administration that would move a financial position currently under the treasurer to the county administrator’s office. The finance committee said a formal resolution to enact that change will be presented at a future meeting.
Chair and committee members emphasized the schedule for formal budget hearings: a social‑services budget meeting on Aug. 4 and department hearings beginning Aug. 5 and continuing on Aug. 7 and Aug. 19. The committee asked board members to attend to hear department heads’ line‑item requests.
Officials added that the county will absorb an anticipated 13% rise in health‑insurance premiums this budget year. One committee member said the premium increase was “a big hit,” and that the 13% figure had been incorporated into the current shortfall estimate.
Discussion only: no budget decisions beyond scheduling and the promised resolution on the organizational change were made at the meeting.
Less critical details: committee leaders said they will continue monitoring state Department of Revenue action on the local‑use tax, and that adjustments tied to that revenue source will be incorporated in next year’s budget-calculation assumptions.
