Board chair says Kane County is in a time of ‘transition’

Dozens of local leaders and community members gathered this week for the 2026 State of Kane County address, where Kane County Board Chair Corinne Pierog and others discussed the county’s priorities, financial outlook and economic development efforts.

Pierog said during Tuesday’s event at Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva that Kane County has gone through a “year of transition.”

The county is no longer experiencing significant population growth, Pierog said, and is seeing changes in things like its workforce and transportation systems.

County government changes include the future establishment of an ethics commission, Pierog said, and Kane County’s emergency communications center, called KaneComm, beginning a structural review.

This year, the Kane County Board passed a budget that does not rely on the county’s dwindling cash reserves, Pierog pointed out. The $402.9 budget for the fiscal year beginning on Dec. 1 is balanced.

“This is … significant for Kane County,” Pierog said.

But she cautioned that financial stability is more than balancing a single year’s budget and involves “preserving reserves, controlling recurring costs and maintaining the capacity to respond to (the county’s) next challenge.”

For years, the county did not increase its general fund property tax levy except to account for new construction, said Pierog, adding that the county saved residents money or “left money on the table,” depending on how one looks at it. She said she hopes the board will continue to raise the property tax levy in future years to keep up with rising expenses.

As for the county’s use of cash reserves to balance prior years’ budgets, Pierog pointed to costs like employee raises and rising energy costs.

Pierog said one of the county’s priorities is transportation, including a 2026-2030 transportation improvement program that includes $596.4 million in work.

The county is also focused on housing, workforce development and economic development.

Pierog pointed to efforts like the Kane County Affordable Housing Fund, which provides financing to developers to incentivize the development and preservation of affordable housing throughout the county.

But she said the county needs far more affordable housing than it currently has.

When it comes to economic development, Chris Toth, planning division manager for the Kane County Development and Community Services Department, said one area the county is looking to promote is agritourism.

Michael Cassa, CEO of the Kane County Economic Development Corporation, spoke to the priorities of business retention and expansion, business attraction and collaboration.

In all, Pierog said she thinks the county is entering the next year “from a position of considerable strength.”

“But important challenges truly remain,” she added.

She pointed to issues like infrastructure work, demand for affordable housing and the need for economic opportunities for agricultural communities.

“Kane County’s future should be financially responsible, economically competitive, environmentally resilient and centered on the needs of our people,” Pierog said. “If we plan carefully, invest responsibly and work across communities, we can grow without losing our wonderful, historic and marvelous identity.”

mmorrow@chicagotribune.com