Lee County Finance Committee Meeting - 10/15/2026

The Lee County Finance Committee met on October 15, 2026, to review county finances and the proposed FY2027 budget and tax levy. The finance report indicated expenditures and revenues were generally on pace; officials noted strong sales-tax receipts and personal property replacement tax revenue approaching $750,000 versus a budgeted $625,000. The committee discussed balancing the budget through expense reductions and a change in the county’s health-insurance arrangement: moving away from its IPBC agreement toward CMS. Officials estimated the change could save about $350,000 and help keep health-insurance costs relatively flat from FY2026 to FY2027. The proposed budget includes continuing capital projects, including highway work and a wall project, as well as department allocations; no individual construction contracts or vendor awards were considered. The committee passed motions to forward the budget and levy for consideration on the county board agenda. The proposed levy was below the threshold requiring a truth-in-taxation hearing, and officials estimated an increase of about $17.75 for a median-priced $190,000 home before applicable exemptions.

The committee also voted to forward seven Joseph E. Meyer resolutions for the county board agenda. Members discussed the annual tax sale and new state tax-sale requirements, the county’s economic-development efforts, and the importance of growing the tax base. No RFPs, bids, or specific procurement awards were identified.