WCO-Finance-Aug-5.2

Improved Vendor Service Creates $1.2 Million Shortfall in Sheriff’s Medical Budget

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Sheriff’s Office is facing a more than $1.2 million shortfall in its budget for inmate medical services, a problem officials attribute to an ironic cause: their medical vendor has improved its performance. The Finance Committee has postponed a request to use contingency funds to cover a portion of the gap.
Key Points:
• The Sheriff’s Office is short approximately $1.23 million needed to cover medical services at the Adult Detention Facility for the remainder of the fiscal year.
• The shortfall occurred because the county’s medical vendor has improved staffing and services, resulting in fewer contract penalties, which the budget had historically relied on to offset costs.
• The Finance Committee postponed a vote on a $618,743 contingency request for the October payment, asking the Sheriff’s Office to first identify potential savings within its own budget.

JOLIET – An unexpected consequence of good performance has created a seven-figure budget hole for the Will County Sheriff’s Office. Officials told the County Board’s Finance Committee on Tuesday that improved service from its inmate medical provider is the primary reason for a projected $1.23 million shortfall for the remainder of the fiscal year.

The Sheriff’s Office requested $618,743 from the county’s contingency fund to cover its October medical bill. Dave Adams of the Sheriff’s Office explained that in previous years, the budget relied on receiving significant financial penalties back from their medical vendor for failing to meet contractual benchmarks, such as staffing levels.

“We have improved the operation with the vendor. The vendor is actually giving us what we want. We’re getting great service,” Adams explained. “But the downside of that is we’re not getting those penalties and fees back, which we have grown accustomed to.”

The original budget for the line item was $6.3 million, though the department had requested about $7.4 million, closer to the full contract value. Now, with the penalty credits no longer materializing, the department lacks the funds to cover its monthly bills for October and November. The monthly bill is approximately $618,000.

“It looks like a bad thing today, but it’s generally overall it’s very good,” Adams said, noting that better medical care reduces the county’s legal liability in one of its “most litigious areas.”

Concerned about draining the county’s contingency fund, which holds roughly $700,000, committee members opted to postpone the request.

“I’m really concerned about wiping out the rest of our contingency,” said Committee Chair Sherry Newquist. “I’d rather see you guys try to come up with the money first.”

Finance department staffer ReShawn Howard said she would work with the Sheriff’s Office to identify potential savings elsewhere in its budget, such as from salary lines for vacant positions. A Sheriff’s Office representative confirmed they have enough funds for the September payment, making October the first month with a shortfall. The committee will revisit the issue next month after that internal search for funds is complete.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Democratic PACs being investigated for bankrolling AWOL Texas House Democrats

Democratic PACs being investigated for bankrolling AWOL Texas House Democrats

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Democratic political action committees are being investigated by state, and potentially federal, authorities over claims they...
Pritzker: Chicago mayor 'never once called' to oppose pension bill

Pritzker: Chicago mayor ‘never once called’ to oppose pension bill

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson never called him to oppose a pension bill...
WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Thursday Aug. 7th, 2025

WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Thursday Aug. 7th, 2025

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop continues his coverage...
Illinois quick hits: Cook County declares flood disaster; opt-out forms promoted; State Fair begins

Illinois quick hits: Cook County declares flood disaster; opt-out forms promoted; State Fair begins

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Cook County, Chicago declare flood disaster Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle have issued respective disaster...
Screenshot 2025-08-06 at 8.05.52 PM

Manhattan to Enact Local 1% Grocery Tax, Replacing State Revenue Stream

MANHATTAN – The Village of Manhattan will implement a 1% local grocery tax beginning January 1, 2026, a move designed to preserve a crucial revenue stream after the State of...
Screenshot 2025-08-06 at 8.05.44 PM

Manhattan Hires New Full-Time Accountant Amid Village Growth

MANHATTAN – To manage an increasing workload driven by village growth, the Manhattan Village Board on Tuesday unanimously approved the hiring of Joseph Page as a new full-time accountant for...
WATCH: IL Republican pushes for TX quorum rules that Pritzker hails as ‘hero’ move

WATCH: IL Republican pushes for TX quorum rules that Pritzker hails as ‘hero’ move

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – While Gov. J.B. Pritzker jokes on national TV that Illinois’ congressional maps were drawn by kindergartners, a...
Police Crime

Manhattan Police Report

Disclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely an accusation, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. On July 31, 2025, at 1:49 P.M. officers...
Fire-Ambulance-Rescue-Logo

Indiana Woman Identified as Victim in Fatal Wilmington-Peotone Road Crash

The Will County Coroner’s Office has officially identified the woman killed in Tuesday’s fatal crash on Wilmington-Peotone Road as 70-year-old Judith L. Stirm of Delphi, Indiana. In a statement, Coroner...
Frankfort-Police-Rescue

Multiple Agencies Rescue Person in Mental Health Crisis from Frankfort Pond

A person experiencing a mental health crisis was safely rescued from a pond near 80th Avenue in Lakeview Estates on Wednesday after a coordinated response by multiple emergency agencies. Frankfort...
Green-Garden-Logo.WP

Green Garden Township Forges Ahead with New Town Hall Plan, Faces Budget and Neighbor Concerns

The Green Garden Township Board is advancing an ambitious plan to build a new, larger town hall and community center on a six-acre parcel south of its current location, a...
Meeting-7.28.25

IT Consultant Urges Green Garden Township to Adopt Modern Cybersecurity Measures

Green Garden Township’s digital infrastructure is vulnerable to cybercrime and requires an immediate overhaul, including adopting a modern, secure email system and multifactor authentication, an IT consultant told the board...
Sanchez

Sanchez Family Unveils Major Redevelopment Plan for Monee Industrial Property

Article Summary: Developer Luis Sanchez, a key figure in Monee's commercial growth for two decades, presented a plan to revitalize an industrial property on Industrial Drive. The project, which includes...
Screenshot-2025-08-13-at-2.15.28-PM

Monee Approves Over $566,000 Payment for New Public Works Facility Nearing Completion

Article Summary: The Monee Village Board approved a payment of $566,134.16 for the ongoing construction of its new Public Works building. Officials reported the project is on track for a...
Screenshot-2025-08-13-at-2.11.44-PM

Sheepdog Firearms Gets Green Light for Special Use Permit in Monee

Article Summary: Sheepdog Firearms received final approval from the Monee Village Board for a special use permit to operate a retail and firearms range facility at 25812 S. Sunset Drive....