Iroquois County board approves FY2026 budget framework after heated levy debate

The Iroquois County Board on Nov. 6 approved a FY2026 budget framework following an extended debate over property-tax levy options that divided commissioners over whether to minimize taxpayer burden or restore road- and bridge-specific levies to their historical maximums.

Board members discussed four levy scenarios presented by finance manager Jill Johnson and a county finance staff team. Johnson said the final worksheet was configured around an estimated equalized assessed value (EAV) near $928 million and included a corporate levy set below the statutory maximum to keep overall levy growth under 5 percent. "We're estimating right now," Johnson told the board, adding that several line items remain sensitive to outside adjustments such as sales, errors and equalization changes.

Opposition centered on restoring highway and bridge levies. Several commissioners warned that keeping those lines below their historical maximums would reduce matching grant capacity and put local road and bridge projects at risk. "I'm all about saving the taxpayer everything we can, but they're also the first ones to complain when bridges and roads are in spherical shape," one commissioner said during debate, urging the board to protect match funding for infrastructure.

A motion to adopt the lowest levy option failed after roll-call votes. The board then considered an alternate levy sheet prepared by finance staff and moved forward with a motion to adopt the budget framework while reserving separate votes on specific funds and line items tied to fund 720 (emergency services) and other allocations. Chair-directed procedure required separate votes for groups A/B/C and for certain identified line items.

The board also approved procedural budget motions earlier in the meeting, including an insurance-premium renewal and other claims flagged by finance. Commissioners emphasized the need to balance service-level expectations with revenue realities: "We need to look at our revenues before we decide what we can expect," a commissioner said. Finance staff indicated some general-fund and public-safety accounts show shrinking balances and warned against relying on one-time transfers.

What happens next: the tax levy will be finalized at a future meeting after the board reconciles the specific line-item votes and confirms final EAV figures and levy-sheet math. Johnson said updated tax-levy worksheets were distributed and action on the tax levy would take place next month.

Votes and formal actions: The board recorded several procedural motions related to the FY2026 budget and levy options on Nov. 6; where recorded, the clerk took roll-call and motion outcomes were announced. (Detailed vote tallies were presented verbally during the meeting.)