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Knox County Board approves balanced $107.9 million budget, tax levy estimate and several capital purchases
Summary
The Knox County Board approved a balanced FY2025–26 budget of $107,879,374, set an estimated tax-levy rate and authorized multiple purchases and appointments including a Motorola radio lease, vehicle replacements and reappointments to regional and county boards.
The Knox County Board on Nov. 24 adopted a balanced FY2025–26 budget totaling $107,879,374 and approved an estimated tax levy of 1.16433 based on an estimated equalized assessed value of $1,195,937,142.
Chair (speaker 1) and committee leaders thanked staff for work on the budget; when the chair read the motion number he stated the total as "$107,879,374." After roll-call votes the chair declared the budget approved. Vice Chair Andy Frederick and other members highlighted department cooperation during the budget process.
The board approved several capital purchases and contract payments during the meeting. Members authorized an 84-month Motorola Solutions lease for a required radio upgrade—cited total $462,689.78 with a monthly payment of $6,618.17—to replace end‑of‑life radios, which officials said will improve interoperability with Galesburg dispatch and preserve recorded transmissions. The board also approved vehicle replacements for the sheriff's department, including a pre-purchase of a 2026 Ford F-250 and a 2024 Ford Transit prisoner-transport van; the Transit was described as having 250,000 miles and a failed prisoner‑compartment climate system. Separately, the board approved purchase of a 2026 Polaris Ranger for search-and-rescue uses; that motion passed with the clerk recording "9 ayes, 2 nays." (items 13–15)
On appointments, the board approved the reappointment of Ken Springer as Knox County’s representative to the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority (CREDA) and reappointed Joseph Riley to the Knox County Housing Authority Board. Springer described CREDA as a regional conduit that aggregates unused municipal bond cap to finance housing, manufacturing and nonprofit projects across nine counties.
The board handled multiple construction and pay applications, including a $319,802.15 payment application #5 for the Mary Davis home performance contract (the clerk recorded "9 ayes, 1 nay, 1 restroom break"); payment applications for jail laundry and medical buildout that reduced the contract balance toward completion; and a nursing-home solar pay application that was approved after required lien releases and AIA documentation were confirmed. Committee presentations asked the board to authorize bidding and bring-back for the construction of Landfill 4 and the closing of Landfill 3; the board moved to proceed with the bid process.
Health and human services members presented and the board approved a consultant agreement with Elevate Consulting Group to provide therapy, EMR setup, billing support and related services for the nursing home at $3,500 per month, with the fee expected to decline after roughly six months as the county assumes responsibility for tasks. Board members said the arrangement is intended as temporary start-up assistance.
The board approved claims for the period ending Nov. 24, 2025, and set the next regular meeting for Dec. 22 at 6 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 7:13 p.m.
