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Stephenson County committee approves $111,156.10 in claims; treasurer reports year-end dip excluding ARPA funds
Summary
At its Jan. 8 meeting the Administration & Legal Affairs Committee approved $111,156.10 in claims, reviewed the county treasurer's year-end cash and investment positions, and heard updates on property tax appeals and election deadlines.
The Stephenson County Administration & Legal Affairs Committee on Jan. 8 approved $111,156.10 in county claims and received detailed year-end finance and assessment reports.
County Treasurer reported that cash requirements totaled $107,090.38 and manual claims were $4,065.72, for a combined total of $111,156.10; the committee approved payment unanimously. The treasurer also presented the county’s year-end cash and investment summary and outlined the audit timeline.
The treasurer said the county’s cash position was down compared with November, a decline the office attributed to normal seasonal activity and to timing differences. The treasurer reported 26 active investments across 16 county funds with total December book value about $9,900,000 and maturities running through October 2025. The treasurer also said more than $5,000,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were expended in 2024 and that, excluding ARPA activity, the county’s cash balance would show an increase; the speaker characterized the ARPA-adjusted change as “up 14% or over 3,600,000,000, I believe,” and flagged that figure as an estimate.
On audits, the treasurer said external auditors will be on site beginning Feb. 3 and that the county remains subject to a federally required single audit because the health department received in excess of $750,000 in federal funds. The treasurer asked departments to prepare for document requests and noted the county will effectively be in “audit mode” through the auditors’ review period.
The county collector and treasurer also described two taxpayer programs: a senior-citizen tax-deferral program for homeowners age 65 or older whose annual income is under $65,000, under which the state pays the taxes on behalf of the homeowner with a 3% simple interest lien placed on the property; and a voluntary prepayment option that accepts up to 80% of the prior year’s tax bill, credited against future installments. The collector said senior-deferral applications are available now and that the senior-deferral application window closes March 1; the prepayment program is open through April 20.
Supervisor of Assessments reported on appeals from the recent assessment notices. The supervisor said 11,689 notices were mailed and the office received 21 appeals from Freeport and 15 countywide appeals. The supervisor said much of the appeal volume concentrated in Lake Somerset and some gated-community developments, and explained that state multipliers applied in some districts had a material effect on appeal counts. The supervisor described the countywide produced assessment value as “just short of $140,000,000” in one summary column and said the final adjusted ratio was about 32.6% after exemptions and adjustments.
The county also heard administrative reminders about upcoming election deadlines: the treasurer’s office noted certification deadlines and that early voting begins Feb. 20; the transcript indicated the office must have ballot certifications on file by Jan. 23 and complete other certification steps by Jan. 30.
Votes at a glance: - Motion: Approve agenda. Outcome: approved (vote recorded as unanimous). - Motion: Approve minutes of Dec. 11, 2024, as amended. Outcome: approved (motion made and seconded; unanimous). - Motion: Approve claims totaling $111,156.10 (cash $107,090.38; manual $4,065.72). Mover: unnamed; Second: Mr. Mauro. Outcome: approved, 5–0. - Motion: Enter executive session to discuss appointment matters under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)(appointment/employment/compensation)). Outcome: approved (motion and second recorded; unanimous).
Why this matters: the claims approval moves immediate payments; the treasurer’s presentation sets expectations for the upcoming single audit and showed investment positions that staff will manage ahead of the auditors’ review. The supervisor’s assessment update signals the scale of taxpayer appeals and potential adjustments that could affect distribution of tax burdens and the county tax rate.
The treasurer said staff will continue to compile documents for auditors through at least June and will send more detailed reports to the committee as audits progress.
