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McHenry council adopts 2025-26 budget after 5-2 vote; grocery tax and project costs draw objections
Summary
The City of McHenry approved its fiscal year 2025-26 budget on April 22, 2025, after council debate over proposed grocery sales tax increases and line items for development projects. The motion passed 5-2.
The City of McHenry City Council adopted the fiscal year 2025-26 budget on April 22, 2025, after a 5-2 roll-call vote. Alderman Vic Santee moved to approve the budget; Alderman Frank McClatchy seconded. The clerk recorded votes of Santee, McClatchy, Davis, Cook and Miller in favor, and Glab and Bassi opposed.
Council members raised specific concerns during the public hearing and council discussion before the vote. Alderman Grama said she could not support the budget because she questioned why some economic initiatives and certain dollar amounts were included. "At this time, I can't support it," she told the council during the public hearing.
Alderman McClatchy praised administrative staff for preparing the budget and said he would vote for it. "You did a good job," he told the administrator and department heads, adding that he had noticed the city was in good financial shape. McClatchy highlighted an objection shared by others to a proposed grocery sales tax increase, saying he would prefer McHenry not raise that tax while neighboring communities were moving away from it.
Alderman Bassi said much of the budget looked sound but raised concerns about specific goals and projects. He questioned an entry labeled "Redwood," noting the project had not broken ground and that the budget appeared to anticipate a second location for the same corporate landlord. He also said he did not recall council approval for a line item for Cold Springs that he recalled as previously $30,000 and had risen to $36,000. "With those things ... I will not be supporting the budget," Bassi said.
City Administrator Suzanne Ostrowski and other directors were publicly thanked by council and staff after the vote for their work preparing the budget. The transcript did not include a single total-dollar figure for the entire FY 2025-26 budget; totals and some line-item details were discussed but not specified in the record.
Votes at a glance: the motion to adopt the FY 2025-26 budget was moved by Alderman Vic Santee and seconded by Alderman Frank McClatchy; the recorded roll call was Santee (yes), McClatchy (yes), Glab (no), Bassi (no), Davis (yes), Cook (yes), Miller (yes). The measure was approved.
