Tazewell County

The Tazewell County board voted to adopt the county
FY2025 budget and a slate of tax levies after a long series of line-item amendments, transfers and debate over fund roll-overs. The board approved the general fund as amended and finalized a package of levies and special-fund appropriations.

Why it matters

Adoption of the FY2025 budget sets spending limits and required levies for the county
for the coming year and authorizes transfers that shift timing of capital and software purchases. The measures include added contingency, new revenue lines for a downtown lease, and multiple grant and program allocations that affect county services from courts and public health to highways and veterans assistance.

What the board did

At the meeting the chair said the board was required to leave the session with a budget and the board proceeded through a set of proposed amendments before a roll-call vote to approve the general fund as amended.

Key line-item adjustments included a $10,000 increase for court legal services, $1,000 for electronic monitoring and $4,000 for interpreter fees (staff said these reflect higher court volumes). Information technology had a $42,000 software maintenance shift tied to the Canvas rollout being delayed into FY2025. Building administration will fund a facilities-management software purchase, including a $44,806 move into FY2025 to support implementation by building staff. The county general fund added $37,400 in rental income tied to a lease for a new facility at 1800 Broadway.

The board also approved a reimbursement arrangement tied to an MOU with the health department: county general will reimburse 25% of specified facility costs (utilities, pest control, landscaping, snow removal) on a quarterly basis, and a $43,907 transfer to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) fund was recorded to reflect timing changes.

On the CIP side, staff said $878,135 in capital-building expenditures previously budgeted for FY2024 will be spent in FY2025 (a timing/roll-forward), which increases FY2025 contingency calculations though staff characterized the net project spending as a timing shift rather than a permanent increase.

Votes at a glance

- General fund as amended: motion approved by roll call (general fund total recorded as $50,429,852).
- Annual budget ordinance for fiscal year 2025: motion to approve and waive reading was made on the record and carried.
- County general levy (2025): $7,290,818 (motion approved).
- County Highway fund (2025): $2,085,089 (motion approved).
- County bridge fund levy (2025): $932,854 (motion approved).
- Social Security contributions fund (2025): $1,367,756 (motion approved).
- Veterans Assistance Fund (2025): $366,820 (motion approved).
- Persons with Developmental Disabilities fund (2025): $525,796 (motion approved).
- Liability & Risk Management fund (2025): $1,295,405 (motion approved).
- University of Illinois Extension fund (2025): $151,000 (motion approved).

(The meeting included many additional fund motions and grant approvals that were presented and carried by voice or roll call; amounts above are those stated into the record.)

Debate and dissent

One unidentified board member objected to further county tax increases, saying the county has "historically high fund balances" and "record revenue" and stating they would not support another taxable county tax increase. Another board member responded that members who object should identify the specific line items they oppose rather than voting no on the overall levy, a point made to clarify member intent for constituents.

Staff explanations and accountability

Budget staff said the budget book contains historical actuals and estimates (examples shown as actuals through 2023 and the tentative FY2024 numbers) and that roll-overs are shown differently in the general fund versus CIP pages. Staff noted the budget book was current as of Aug. 31 and that final audited adjustments would be presented after audit completion.

Next steps

With the ordinance adopted and levies set, the county has formal spending authority for FY2025; staff and department heads will execute planned projects and grant programs. The board recessed at the end of the meeting; no further hearing dates were announced for additional budget consideration at that session.

Quotes

"We have to leave tonight's meeting with a budget," the chair said as the board began its work to approve the annual spending plan.

"I will just not support another taxable county tax increase," an unidentified board member said during levy debate, citing high fund balances and record revenue.

Ending

The board concluded by approving the annual ordinance and moved into a series of fund-specific motions and roll-call votes that finalized appropriation and levy amounts for 2025.