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Stephenson County board approves 2026 annual appropriation ordinance, adds $40,000 9-1-1 expense line
Summary
The Stephenson County board approved the 2026 Annual Appropriation Ordinance with an added $40,000 line for 9-1-1 expenses; finance staff cited Central Square and a radio upgrade as possible uses and said they will follow up with the sheriff for specifics.
The Stephenson County board voted to approve its 2026 Annual Appropriation Ordinance after a brief discussion of a new 9-1-1 expense line. Mr. Whelan moved that the ordinance be approved “as presented, with the budget that was presented 2 weeks ago,” and Mrs. Hayes seconded the motion.
Finance Director DeWall told the board the only change to the draft budget was the addition of a dedicated 9-1-1 expense line in the contingencies department for $40,000 to allow the county to spend transferred 9-1-1 funds within statutory limits. “We just added a 9‑1‑1 expenses line in the amount of $40,000,” DeWall said, and cited Central Square (software) and a radio upgrade as examples of eligible expenses. He said he would follow up with the sheriff to provide further specifics.
Board member Mr. Frick pressed for detail on how the new line would be used, asking, “So we added an expense line, what are those expenses going to be? Have we never spent them before?” DeWall responded that prior needs had been covered but that a statutory change required explicit budgeting and that he would obtain additional information from the sheriff.
After brief discussion and no additional amendments, the board voted to approve the ordinance. The transcript records some back-and-forth while members confirmed the tally; the result is reported in the record as 11 to 1 in favor of adoption.
Votes at a glance • Agenda approval — moved by Mr. Bush, seconded by Mrs. Baker; passed (reported 10 to 0). • Minutes approval (November) — moved by Mr. Bush, seconded by Mr. Diddens; passed (reported 11 to 0). • Annual Appropriation Ordinance (2026) — moved by Mr. Whelan, seconded by Mrs. Hayes; passed (reported 11 to 1). • Motion to adjourn — moved by Mr. Bush, seconded by Mrs. Hayes; passed unanimously.
Next steps: Finance staff said they will obtain and report additional detail from the sheriff’s office on the planned uses of the new 9-1-1 expense line.
