Stephenson County’s Finance Committee on Nov. 7 recommended a 0% increase in the county’s 2026 property tax levy request to the full board, approved the annual appropriation (2026 budget) ordinance, and authorized a multiyear property‑tax advance for the county’s nursing facility with the committee increasing the proposed advance amount to $1,500,000 during debate.

During deliberations the committee approved projected revenue for 2026 (with the Veterans Assistance Commission/highway adjustments incorporated) and then voted to recommend a 0% levy increase. The chair said the committee will forward a 0% increase levy request to the full board.

Committee members then considered a revised resolution prepared by the state’s attorney that described a multiyear interfund loan/tax‑advance mechanism to provide additional cash to the nursing facility. Staff noted the resolution could allow taking more than an 85% tax advance and presented an option to increase the amount available as an interfund advance.

Several members cautioned the committee about potential conflicts with the county’s interfund‑loan policy: one member said the proposed action “will largely violate” the interfund loan policy but acknowledged that using a tax advance could save the county hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest compared with alternative borrowing. Committee members also noted urgent vendor liabilities at the nursing facility and the operational need to reduce interest exposure.

After debate the committee voted in favor of increasing the proposed multiyear tax‑advance amount to $1,500,000 and to proceed with the resolution language recommended by the state’s attorney; committee members asked staff to place policy‑clarifying language on a future agenda so the board can consider changes to the interfund‑loan policy.

The committee also approved the RxMapper Master Service Agreement documentation and the annual appropriation (2026 budget) ordinance; those documents will be provided to the full board for signatures.