The Peoria County Land Use Committee voted unanimously to approve the county's fiscal 2026 recommended budget for departments overseen by the committee.

Andrew, speaking for county planning staff, said the recommended general-fund revenues and expenditures for fiscal 2026 are each "64,200,000.0," and that the general fund includes $1,200,000 taken from reserves. He said the all-funds recommended total is "172,500,000.0," with a planned spend-down of fund reserves of about $18,000,000.

The committee's land use programs — principally the planning and zoning department and an associated planning and zoning grant fund — were reported to account for $533,720 in revenues (approximately 0.35% of the county's reported revenues) and $785,248 in expenditures (about 0.46% of the county's reported expenditures) in the recommended budget. Staffing for the planning and zoning function remains at 8.8 full-time-equivalent positions, unchanged since 2024.

Andrew told the committee that total sources are projected to decrease slightly (by roughly $5,000, described in the presentation as a 1% change driven by license and permit estimates), while total uses were projected to increase by about $18,900 (reported as a 2.6% rise), driven mainly by wage increases and offset by reductions in commodities, contractuals and employee travel.

Committee members praised staff work. Sharon and Linda Daley, identified during the meeting as the vice chair of finance, thanked Andrew for the clarity of the budget presentation. Following discussion, the committee voted to approve the budget unanimously.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to allow remote participation by Marcia: approved unanimously (procedure to permit remote attendance was moved, seconded and adopted).
- Motion to approve committee minutes (motion by Terry; second by Jared): approved unanimously.
- Motion to place and approve the fiscal 2026 recommended budget for land use on the floor (moved by Betty; second by Sharon per the record): approved unanimously.

The meeting record shows there were no zoning cases or subdivision waivers on the agenda for this session, and the committee filed and received Tri-County Regional Planning Commission minutes as an informational item. The meeting then moved to public comment and a staff briefing on the countywide comprehensive land use plan.