Stephenson County committee approves COLA for sheriff as member urges half‑penny sales tax to bolster budget

The Stephenson County committee approved a cost‑of‑living adjustment for the sheriff and completed routine business, and one member proposed exploring a half‑penny sales tax to increase general‑fund revenue.

The committee first approved the meeting agenda, the minutes of the June 10, 2025 meeting and claims as presented; the claims figures read into the record included “public property, $70,230.08,” and “public safety, 140,260 at 29¢” (as recorded in the meeting transcript). A motion to approve the COLA for the sheriff was made by Miss Haney and seconded by Mr. McCann; the motion carried by voice vote.

Why it matters: committee members flagged a tightening fiscal picture heading into the next budget cycle and discussed possible revenue options that would require voter approval. One board member said putting a half‑penny sales tax on the ballot next year could yield about $2 million for the general fund and reduce the need to borrow annually.

What was said: Miss Haney moved to approve the COLA for the sheriff. A committee member who spoke later said, in part, that “our budget is gonna be challenged this year” and suggested that an election next year would be the appropriate time to ask voters to approve a half‑penny sales tax to provide roughly $2 million in additional revenue.

Details and next steps: The transcript records the procedural motions and voice votes but does not include a roll‑call tally for the COLA motion. The sales tax discussion was a preliminary policy suggestion; no formal motion to place a measure on the ballot was made during the meeting.

Context: Committee members noted federal funding is declining and that departments face pressures; the board member advocating a tax said the county has not raised the rate in decades and urged colleagues to consider a coordinated approach before budget adoption.