Lee County Finance Committee Meeting - Budget Hearing - 8/4/2026

The Lee County Finance Committee held a budget hearing on August 4, 2026, to review and discuss budget requests from various county departments and affiliated organizations. Key procurement-related discussions included budget presentations from the Health Department, County Clerk's Office, Probation Department, Veterans Assistance Department, University of Illinois Extension, Regional Office of Education, and Lee County Council on Aging. Departments highlighted salary adjustments, staffing changes, health insurance cost increases, and capital expenditures such as the Tyler case management system. The Health Department requested restoration of its levy to previous levels to rebuild cash reserves. The County Clerk's Office discussed potential election expenses, including a possible primary election with an estimated cost of $38,000. The Probation Department noted contractual service increases due to the Tyler system and discussed compliance with new pretrial notification requirements. The Veterans Assistance Department added a new service officer position and adjusted its levy accordingly. The University of Illinois Extension and Regional Office of Education presented multi-county budgets with no requested levy increases but noted challenges with funding and office space costs. The Council on Aging detailed its programs and funding sources, emphasizing volunteer support and community outreach. The committee discussed succession planning across departments and the budgeting process, including tracking budget requests and adjustments. No contract awards or vendor selections were finalized during the meeting. The session concluded with a motion to adjourn and plans for continued budget refinement in future meetings.