The Kane County Board inched its way into the 2027 budget season at its Tuesday meeting, signing off on modest pay bumps and fresh riverboat spending while the county still scrambles to close a stubborn general fund shortfall. The moves advanced 2.5 percent raises for non-union staff and several departmental projects, but the bigger fixes that would actually balance the books are still very much up in the air.
Small raises cleared
Board members approved 2.5 percent raises for non-union county employees, including department heads and animal-control workers, with the increases scheduled to kick in on Dec. 6, 2026, according to Kane County meeting documents. Officials framed the move as an early building block for next year’s budget rather than a final statement on overall spending.
Higher raise proposal fails
A separate bid to nudge those non-union raises to 2.7 percent went down in a split vote. That figure matches the consumer price index the county is using for tax extensions and as a starting point for levy and tax-extension calculations, but it was a step too far for a majority of the board. As reported by the Chicago Tribune, the slightly larger bump would have pushed the county’s spending ceiling at a touchy moment for its reserves.
Riverboat funds shifted to projects
The board also signed off on using roughly $3.5 million in new Grand Victoria riverboat revenues for departmental projects and approved more than $600,000 from existing riverboat balances for specific requests. After those moves, a little over $1 million remains available for outside organizations. Details on the program and eligible uses are posted on the Kane County Riverboat Fund page and in the board packet.
Reserves, RTA money, and the road ahead
One item that did not make it across the finish line was a proposal to allocate the county’s RTA sales-tax dollars, leaving big choices about transportation and public-safety funding for another day. Prior reporting shows the county has been dipping into cash reserves to plug budget gaps since 2023, with millions shifted into recent budgets to cover shortfalls. The Daily Herald noted that emergency appropriations and reserve transfers helped balance the FY2026 plan, and finance committee chair Bill Lenert told the board they are aiming to use “little to no reserves” for 2027, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Next steps for budget writers
County staff and board committees will keep grinding through levy scenarios and departmental budgets over the summer, with public hearings and more committee votes expected. On the table are potential levy increases, service cuts, and one-time funding maneuvers. How those choices shake out will determine whether Kane County can stabilize its finances for 2027 without taking another big bite out of its reserves.
