Will County Board approves $2.78 million withdrawal from reserves to balance FY2026 budget

The Will County Board voted unanimously on Dec. 2025 to reconcile a shortfall in the FY2026 budget by withdrawing $2,778,649 from county cash reserves.

At a special meeting called to address the budget, the board moved to use reserves after members differed over whether departmental cuts should have been identified earlier in the process. Leader Lee Richmond and finance staff said the amount can be used for capital projects that bond raters view favorably; other members warned that routine use of reserves for operating expenses is risky.

The action began with a motion to reconcile the FY2026 levy using $2,800,000 from reserves. County board member Ortiz introduced a precise amendment to reduce that to $2,778,649, which she described as "the exact amount that is missing in the gap of the budget." The amendment was debated, and members raised questions about the accuracy of figures supplied by departments. Member Van Dyne reported finance department numbers that differed by roughly $4,000 but said staff could accommodate the change if the amendment passed.

Karen (finance director) said bond-rating agencies generally accept one-time, planned use of reserves for capital purchases but view unplanned use of reserves to operate government as poor practice. "When they're not planned and you're using it to cover operations, it's not looked at as the best way to operate," she said, adding the county is not due for a new bond rating immediately and the planned use should not harm the rating.

Several members supported the measure as a practical solution to balance the books. Member Butler said the action "completes the budget" and praised using existing taxpayer‑entrusted funds rather than raising the levy. Member Newquist said he would "reluctantly" support the plan because a balanced budget was needed. Other members reiterated calls for greater transparency in departmental reporting and suggested more frequent reserve snapshots or treasurer presentations.

A motion to call the question ended debate and a roll call on Resolution 23-3710, "Resolution to reconcile the FY2026 budget levy using $2,778,649 from cash reserves," resulted in 20 affirmative votes. The chair announced the motion carries.

Board members said they hope the vote closes the immediate budget issue and urged a better process next year, including departmental hearings, clearer reporting of reserve levels, and a defined approach for when the levy and proposed budget diverge.