Monitor spending before seeking tax hike

As a certified financial planner, MBA and wealth advisor who has been counseling individuals and businesses for more than 40 years on prudent financial management, I am deeply concerned about the proposal to implement a three-quarter percent sales tax to address a budget shortfall. I investigated recent trends in Kane County's revenue and expenses. What I found should alarm every county taxpayer.

In 2020, the Kane County budget was $65 million. By 2024, it has exploded to $122 million, according to your own accounting department’s report of July 24, 2024 —an 87% increase. This unchecked growth is particularly egregious regarding personnel costs. In 2020, $41 million was spent on salaries and wages and now that figure has skyrocketed to $78.2 million in 2024, representing a 90% increase. Contractual personnel costs have also ballooned, increasing from $10 million to $17.5 million, a 75% rise over the same period.

What makes these increases even more concerning is the fact that Kane County’s population has actually decreased. In 2012, the population was 520,000 and by 2023, it had fallen to 515,000.

Before imposing new taxes on the already overburdened residents of Kane County, the County Board has a duty to justify these sharp increases in spending. It is simply unacceptable to burden the people of Kane County with higher taxes without first addressing the fundamental issues behind this runaway spending. Kane County residents are not a blank check for the County Board’s excessive and unchecked budget increases. It is time for leadership to take responsibility and demonstrate fiscal accountability.

I urge President Corinne Pierog and the Board to undertake a comprehensive review of the budget, identify areas where wasteful spending can be cut and implement cost-saving measures. Until this is done, there should be no consideration of additional taxes on Kane County residents.

Jenine Mehr

Elburn