New Kane County budget keeps property tax levy flat again

A mix of new income and spending cuts in Kane County's budget will lead to a frozen property tax levy for the fifth consecutive year.

Major spending concessions in the sheriff's office and an influx of cash from pending fee increases are some of the big levers that shrank a $3.2 million budget deficit found when county officials began crunching the 2016 numbers.

Sheriff Don Kramer's budget expects about $150,000 in new revenue from increased traffic ticket fine revenues and burglar alarm enforcement fees. At the same time, it slashes about $500,000 by deferring vehicle replacements and trimming the operating budgets for both the jail and law enforcement offices.

The budget also anticipates about $600,000 in new revenue by nearly doubling the fee in criminal and civil cases that funds court security officer salaries. The county board has not yet OK'd the fee increase.

The flat property tax levy doesn't mean all the spending in the county will also be flat.

Payroll costs will increase by 4.6 percent. Part of that reflects a 2.5 percent pay increase for nonunion employees.

Individual unions have already negotiated raises. For instance, a pending contract with the correctional officers union will see an average wage increase of nearly 9 percent. The contract includes retroactive raises to 2014. There are no salary increases planned for elected officials in the 2016 budget.

Coroner Rob Russell will also receive about $56,000 more in 2016 to pay for autopsies.

The number of autopsies the office is required to perform was a hotly debated issue this past year. County board Chairman Chris Lauzen went as far as to hire an outside consultant to review all the autopsies in the office and make recommendations for where to cut back.

In the end, it appears Russell will get more money, not less. There are still unresolved disagreements, and a pending legal battle, regarding expenses and the classification of expenses in Russell's office for the current budget year.

Lauzen noted during budget briefings this week that he views the 2016 budget as a success.

"The board members continue to demonstrate their commitment to fiscal responsibility and to frugality," Lauzen said.

The continuation of the flat property tax levy helps fulfill a campaign promise Lauzen made in 2012.

The county board is set to approve the 2016 budget at its Nov. 25 meeting.