County staff has presented a 2019 budget and levy for McHenry County that not only further reduces the cost of government, but also returns money back to the taxpayers.
The proposed levy will abate $7.53 million, and includes a permanent tax cut totaling more than $2.3 million. This is the second consecutive year that the county has chosen to abate a portion of its levy.
“No other government in Illinois is doing what we’re doing,” County Board Chairman Jack Franks, D-Marengo, said. “We’re not just spending less of the taxpayers’ hard-earned money. We’re choosing to not even collect a significant percentage of it, and keep it in their pockets where it rightfully belongs. That’s $18 million we’ve saved the taxpayers in the past two years – we saved $8 million last year, and nearly $10 million this year. I promised taxpayers last year that the reduction was a start, and we’re keeping our word,” Franks said.
The $211.6 million budget for 2019 is $4.45 million less than the $216 million budget for the current 2018 fiscal year. Next year’s budget does not cut any services or programs. Additionally, the county is continuing on its path toward completing necessary capital projects – its budget includes $6.7 million for needed improvements, such as new police and emergency radios, a reconfiguration of the Administration Building and Annex A to maximize efficiency, and reconstruction of the courthouse parking lot.
Franks and Finance and Audit Committee Chairman Mike Skala, R-Huntley, praised county staff for their work in developing another balanced, tighter budget, and thanked department heads for again working together to make cuts.
“We were able to cut $2.3 million with a permanent levy reduction and another $7.5 million with an abatement. This was made possible by our fiscally responsible and talented staff. While other governments across Illinois are facing deficits or asking taxpayers to pay more, we’re giving money back to our residents,” Skala said.
The 2019 budget and levy will officially go on 30-day review at the County Board’s voting meeting next Tuesday evening, and will officially be adopted November 13. The county’s 2019 fiscal year begins December 1.
