Kane County executive committee approves reallocation of RTA sales-tax to shore up 2027 budget

The Kane County Executive Committee voted in favor of changing the countys allocation of mass-transit (RTA) sales-tax revenue, a move backers said is necessary to close a roughly $7 million gap in the proposed 2027 budget.

The finance director told the committee the draft 2027 budget assumes a continued 35% allocation of RTA sales-tax revenue to the general fund and that without that transfer the county would need about $7 million in additional cuts that could include layoffs. "If we do not reallocate the RTA funds to the general fund, we will end up laying off people," said Mr. Ty, a transportation leader on the board, arguing the increase in the county motor fuel tax and timing adjustments make transportation largely "whole."

Opponents said the transfer undermines a prior one-year promise and amounts to using formerly dedicated transportation money for general operations. "I voted originally for this as a one-year solution and I told my constituents I would not vote for it again," said Miss Jubie, who announced she would oppose the change. Several board members cautioned the move could delay or complicate multi-year transportation projects and urged careful oversight.

County Finance Director Kathleen Hopinson told the committee the county is below a 90-day reserve in key operating funds, that cash balances in the general fund, IMRF and FICA funds have fallen and that short-term measures were required until property-tax installments arrive. She said the balanced draft budget presented to the board was built on the assumption the RTA transfer would continue and that without it deeper cuts would be necessary.

The motion was adopted in a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded yes votes by Alan Bates, Gums, Kais, Bill Leonard (chair of the finance committee), Lewis, Molina, Sanchez and Williams and recorded no votes by Jubie, Linder, Sturgis/Surges and Roth as the roll call was read aloud in committee. The motion carried and the committee will forward the resolution to the full county board with the committees recommendation.

Supporters said they view the change as a carefully managed, short-term fiscal necessity that keeps core services funded; opponents said the county must avoid repeatedly tapping what had been described as dedicated transportation revenue and seek long-term revenue solutions.

Next steps: the resolution will appear on the county board agenda for final consideration; board members and staff said they will continue follow-up briefings on the sheriff's overspending trends, the special-reserve loan language and detailed transportation funding impacts.