Will County finance committee backs 1.75% levy framework, amends levies and forwards budget to full board

The Will County Finance Committee on Thursday recommended a compromise 1.75% levy framework and approved a package of amended levy dollar amounts and budget changes to send to the full county board.

County Board Speaker Van Dine offered the 1.75% proposal as a compromise after members split between keeping a 0% increase and moving to 2%. Van Dine pledged to cut $50,000 from the county board budget as part of his proposal and urged the committee to adopt dollar figures reflecting the 1.75% levy. "My request would ask for a motion from someone for this board to, accept a 1.75% levy," he said.

Members debated both process and substance for more than an hour. Several members pressed that the finance committee or department heads produce explicit line-item cuts before finalizing a levy. Member David noted that assessed valuations had risen and said a lower levy percentage does not automatically translate to lower taxes at the…