Illinois Tollway board moves 2026 final budget to full board with committee recommendation

The Illinois Tollway's Finance and Audit Committee voted Dec. 18 to place the agency's 2026 final budget on the full board agenda, setting the stage for board consideration and public review.

CFO Kathy Williams told committee members the 2026 plan allocates $1,790,000,000 in revenue. Of that total, the budget assigns $467,700,000 to operating costs and $581,900,000 as transfers to the trustee for debt service. The plan directs $735,900,000 to renewal and replacement accounts and bond proceeds that will support estimated capital expenditures of about $1,300,000,000. Williams said there were no changes between the tentative and final budgets and that the final includes additional information needed to meet GFLA requirements.

Executive Director Cassandra Rouse emphasized that the 2026 budget does not include funding for the next capital program or any anticipated toll-rate increases for passenger or commercial vehicles. Rouse said any future capital program or toll-rate adjustments would be subject to separate board review and public discussion.

The committee approved placement of the budget on the December board meeting agenda by voice vote. The board later recorded the committee recommendation and will consider the final budget at the full board meeting.

The approval to place the budget on the board agenda was procedural; the committee did not adopt the budget as a final board action at this meeting. Next steps include full board consideration and any additional public engagement the board directs. No timetable for a board vote on adoption of the final budget or for decisions about a future capital program or toll-rate changes was set at the committee meeting.