Conservation District presents mostly flat FY2027 budget, highlights debt payoff and capital projects

Elizabeth Kessler, executive director of the Conservation District, and Andy Dialek, director of administration and finance, presented the district’s FY2027 budget to the finance committee and explained key drivers.

Kessler said total revenues across all funds are approximately $31,000,000, with non‑debt general‑fund revenue at about $16,700,000 and total expenses across all funds at about $31,700,000 (a 1.5% decrease from the prior adopted budget). She noted the district will be 100% paid off on its debt service in 2026, which the presenters framed as a multi‑year effort that has saved McHenry County taxpayers millions.

The presentation listed operating priorities, transfers to dedicated accounts for capital‑asset management and natural‑resource work, and several capital projects. Dialek highlighted a $320,000 Illinois Department of Transportation engineering grant for the Hebron Trail Lang Road connection (Phase 1) and said the construction phase could cost about $4,000,000. Other work includes Silver Creek habitat/flood reduction projects supported by a congressional funding award, mitigation‑bank engineering in the Kishwaukee corridor, and repairs to visitor‑center facilities.

Kessler described staffing (76 full‑time general‑fund employees, additional part‑time and seasonal positions, and roughly 400 volunteers), a planned 3% merit/market adjustment, ongoing collective‑bargaining negotiations with the Fraternal Order of Police, and an upcoming compensation study. She also explained fleet‑rotation and pilot use of e‑bikes/e‑motorcycles for ranger access where appropriate.

Committee members asked for a breakdown of administrative payroll versus total payroll; staff agreed to provide that detail after the meeting. The committee voted to approve the district’s budget submission as presented.