Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | October 21, 2025

A contentious debate over a looming $8.9 million budget shortfall dominated the Will County Board Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday. The discussion centered on the consequences of the full board’s recent preliminary vote to freeze the county’s property tax levy for the upcoming fiscal year. The County Executive’s office issued stark warnings that holding the levy flat would necessitate drastic cuts to essential services, including court operations and utilities. In response, board members who supported the tax freeze presented a list of nearly $26 million in potential cuts they believe could be made without impacting core services or personnel, highlighting a deep philosophical divide on spending and efficiency. For more on this debate, see our full story.

The meeting also featured an impassioned public comment session led by the Will County Health Department, whose leaders and board members pleaded for $1 million in county funding. Officials are seeking to save 11 critical staff positions set to be eliminated when federal COVID-era grants expire, warning that the loss would severely weaken immunization, HIV prevention, and maternal health programs. You can read more about their request in our detailed coverage.

Amid the budget turmoil, a secondary debate emerged over the county’s dedicated cannabis tax fund. With a balance of approximately $2.5 million, some members proposed absorbing the money into the general fund to help cover the budget gap. Others fiercely opposed the idea, arguing the money was promised to community programs aimed at repairing the harms of the war on drugs. Read more on the cannabis fund debate in our separate article.