Taxes, Election, GIS 10-20-26

The LaSalle County Board Taxes, Election and GIS Committee met on October 20, 2026. The Treasurer reported tax distributions of about $302 million (approximately 97.5% of the total), investment renewals including $2 million and $500,000 at 4.35%, and other funds earning about 4%. Several certificates of deposit are due later in October, with renewal rates expected to be closer to 4.8–5%. The committee agreed to defer a decision on roughly $2.1 million remaining in the I-Fiber fund until after the November budget and levy discussions; $7.5 million had already been transferred to the insurance trust. The committee also discussed directing collector fees—about $395,000 so far—into the surplus equity fund as a loan, with further coordination needed with Finance and the financial director. Members approved resolutions concerning surrender of tax-sale certificates and certificates for listed parcels. Two property bids from a recently formed LLC were excluded, with the properties to be offered to the next-highest bidders; the difference was reported as $21.

The County Clerk reported election preparations, including more than 1,200 vote-by-mail ballots processed and a continuing need for election judges. The committee approved the Clerk’s bills; members asked about repeated descriptions for election supplies, lodging, and labor-law posters, and staff clarified these were not duplicate hotel payments. The Recorder reported work with existing software provider Fiddler on a proposed pilot AI tool to help staff read older handwritten documents; it is not intended for indexing or public use, and no cost or purchasing approval was reported. No RFPs or contract awards were identified.