The Will County Finance Committee voted to approve a series of procedural budget items and departmental appropriations and to publish preliminary levy estimates for several taxing bodies, including the county’s estimate of annual aggregate levy (approved on a 4–3 roll call) and the Community Mental Health Board levy (approved by roll call).

Committee members approved routine items by voice vote early in the meeting, including minutes for the Sept. 2 regular meeting and the Sept. 16 special finance-committee meeting. During new business the committee approved a sequence of intra-departmental transfers and appropriations across county budgets — including appropriations within the Will County Health Department budget, debt-service fund adjustments, a coroner’s budget appropriation, indemnity and communication-center adjustments, and a veterans assistance commission appropriation — by motions and voice votes.

Members used the budget discussion to debate the county’s broader levy posture. Several members urged restraint on tax increases and suggested directing department heads to identify cuts; other members urged caution about cutting services now, citing rising demand for social services and increased costs faced by residents. The County Executive’s office and finance staff said the executive team reduced initial department requests by roughly $25 million before presenting a proposal that would keep the levy increase to about 2 percent (presentation materials were provided to members). The executive’s office also said staff would continue to meet with committee members and department heads to refine the final budget.

The committee approved publishing the county’s estimate of the annual aggregate levy by roll call vote (motion passed 4–3) after extended discussion by members about property-tax burdens, program cuts and the process for departmental reductions. The estimate is a procedural step that permits the county to publish proposed levy figures; committee members and staff repeatedly noted that publication does not preclude further discussions, amendments or final board action before the levy is set.

Separately, the committee approved the Community Mental Health Board’s estimate of annual aggregate levy by roll call. Members also discussed a bipartisan compromise on distribution of the county’s cannabis excise funds; committee member Vince said he and a colleague agreed on a proposal and asked that the plan be circulated and placed on the special finance meeting agenda for further review (no vote on the cannabis allocation occurred at this meeting).

Committee members asked the executive’s office and finance staff for more detailed follow-up on several points: possible department-level reductions to meet targeted savings, the Sunny Hill nursing-home budget and overtime/contract staffing levels, and additional detail on revenue and expense line items for the health department. The executive’s office reiterated staff availability to review line-by-line questions and said some audits (including billing audits for the health department and the nursing home) are underway.