Will County lowers tax rate for third year in a row
Health Department to get $359,000 funding increase
JOLIET – The Will County Board voted today to lower the tax rate on the county portion of residents' tax bills for the third year in a row. The two percent reduction brings the tax rate down to .5941 percent. At the same time, the county will increase funding for the Health Department by $359,000. The board voted 14-9 along party lines to establish the tax levy.
“We’re holding the line on taxes,” said county board member and Finance Committee Chair Mike Fricilone (R-Homer Glen). “We’ve lowered the tax rate on the county portion of the tax bill and increased funding for the Health Department, which provides vital services to our residents.”
“We’re holding the line on taxes,” said county board member and Finance Committee Chair Mike Fricilone (R-Homer Glen). “We’ve lowered the tax rate on the county portion of the tax bill and increased funding for the Health Department, which provides vital services to our residents.”
The reduction in the county tax rate comes on the heels of statewide legislation passed out of Springfield this year that cuts funding to Will County by $2.4 million. However, Fricilone said that the taxpayer pool in Will County has grown, which spreads the burden out and allows for the reduction.
“We’ve been asked to do more with less,” said Will County Board Minority Leader Herb Brooks (D-Joliet). “Over the past several years, we’ve seen the state cut funding across the board, including to mental health services, so I’m very happy that we’re able to provide some additional funding for our Health Department, which is stretched thin.”
Will County Board Speaker Jim Moustis (R-Frankfort) said that it was important for the county board not to over tax the residents of Will County. “The County Executive proposed a property tax increase tied to the Consumer Price Index, but we were able to get by without that increase and I think the residents of Will County will appreciate that. It’s easy to take more money; it’s very difficult to decide how money is spent. We owe it to our constituents to make those tough decisions.”
The County Executive’s proposed increase tied to the CPI would have generated an additional $1 million.
Brooks said that he was concerned about cuts that will have to be made to make up for the $1 million that is removed from the County Executive’s proposed budget. “This levy will not cover the services that our constituents need and deserve.”
The county board is now scheduled to begin formulating their spending plan which will come before the full board in November.
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“We’ve been asked to do more with less,” said Will County Board Minority Leader Herb Brooks (D-Joliet). “Over the past several years, we’ve seen the state cut funding across the board, including to mental health services, so I’m very happy that we’re able to provide some additional funding for our Health Department, which is stretched thin.”
Will County Board Speaker Jim Moustis (R-Frankfort) said that it was important for the county board not to over tax the residents of Will County. “The County Executive proposed a property tax increase tied to the Consumer Price Index, but we were able to get by without that increase and I think the residents of Will County will appreciate that. It’s easy to take more money; it’s very difficult to decide how money is spent. We owe it to our constituents to make those tough decisions.”
The County Executive’s proposed increase tied to the CPI would have generated an additional $1 million.
Brooks said that he was concerned about cuts that will have to be made to make up for the $1 million that is removed from the County Executive’s proposed budget. “This levy will not cover the services that our constituents need and deserve.”
The county board is now scheduled to begin formulating their spending plan which will come before the full board in November.
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