Boone County finance committee approves 2026 budget packet after trimming sheriffs extra request to bolster contingency

Boone Countys Committee of the Whole for Finance voted Thursday to approve its annual budget appropriations and levy, sending the package to the full county board after a contentious debate over how much additional funding to provide the sheriff.

The committee approved Orders 25-20 as amended; during roll call the body approved an amendment from Chair Carl Johnson to reduce the sheriffs proposed additional allocation from $335,000 to $311,690, a change Johnson said would "go a long way" toward enlarging contingency funds while major construction projects are underway.

Finance director Becky Tobin summarized the budget highlights before the vote, noting a proposed 3.5% levy and that year-to-date revenues have already exceeded the most recent budgeted amount. Tobin also said contingency is set at about $110,000 and that ARPA funds are nearly spent, leaving roughly $1.2 million unspent plus interest.

The amendment drew sharp disagreement from several board members who described the adjustment as a reduction in public-safety resources. Marion Thornberry said the sheriffs requests reflected needs, not wants, and objected to removing funds the sheriff identified as necessary. Rodney Riley framed the issue around equipment and training, saying, "When you start messing with public safety money when we don't have to, I think that's the wrong place to cut."

Supporters of the amendment argued the county is managing a heavy capital program next year and should preserve contingency to handle unanticipated construction costs and other emergencies. Johnson told colleagues that with $20 million in capital improvements and several active projects, a larger contingency would help avoid midyear budget amendments.

Other changes Tobin described included shifting $10,000 from the University of Illinois extension line into the county bridge fund and adding a staff attorney to reduce dependency on an outside legal rotation.

The committee recorded the amendment as passing on roll call 8–4 and approved the budget as amended; the full county board will consider final adoption next week.