The McLean County Board on Thursday approved a $150 million budget, increasing spending by $5.9 million but lowering the property tax rate for the third time in three years.
The budget will lower the county’s property tax rate to its lowest level in 20 years, largely due to a 6.72% increase in the county’s equalized assessed valuation. The tax rate will drop from $0.83 to $0.81 per $100 assessed valuation, amounting to a decrease of $15.86 for the owner of a $255,000 home. However, because of the increases in valuation, some homeowners may not see a decrease in their actual county tax bill.
County officials have cited inflationary costs as driving up the budget, along with health insurance costs that increased 22%, or about $2 million. In addition, nonunion employees will see a 1.5% pay increase. That’s part of an effort to retain staff.
County board chair Elizabeth Johnston noted that committees all approved their parts of the budget unanimously, but the votes spanning the budget package Thursday were not.
District 10 board member Mark Clauss dissented in a voice vote for approval of the budget as recommended by the Executive Committee, and was joined by five others to oppose adoption of the tax levy ordinance. The overall tax levy will be $52.2 million.
Other parts, including adoption of the combined appropriation and budget ordinance and five-year capital improvement plan, were unanimous.
Clauss contested messaging that suggested people would see their county taxes decrease.
“Although it's possible with the rate to go down with all of our valuation increases, that typically doesn't happen,” he said, adding he also wanted to push for efficiencies that might see the overall levy decrease in the future.
Johnston said what Clauss described was already being done, and started in May with the budgeting process. “I think striving for excellence and finding efficiencies is a top priority ... We are the public accounting for our budget planning,” she said.
And she praised the outcome.
"We are a stable operation. We are lowering our levy while absorbing exorbitant cost increases in a couple of different areas," she said. "And so I am very grateful to the staff that dug in as hard as they did to try to keep it as much in check as possible."
Continuing disaster declaration
Also Thursday, the board approved extending the declaration of a local disaster in McLean County through Dec. 18.
The declaration around August storms comes as Illinois has appealed a denial of a disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA]. The request also covers Champaign, Cook, Ford, Fulton, Tazewell, Vermilion and Will counties.
Solar farms dissent
The board also approved zoning for a pair of solar farms. The larger 200-megawatt facility by Blooming Grove Solar sits along Route 66 near Lexington, and was approved in the consent agenda.
But the other, Donatello Solar just outside Gridley, prompted several public speakers to cry foul.
A trio of Gridley residents told the board they weren’t necessarily against the 37-acre, 5-megawatt facility. But they asked the board to return the issue to the county zoning board, claiming de-annexation of part of the land from the village was hurried and opaque. They raised questions of conflict of interest because the land is owned by Village President Jeff Benedict.
They also said they didn’t have adequate time to raise the issue with the county zoning board of appeals [ZBA].
Lea Cline, chair of the Land Use and Transportation Committee, was sympathetic, but said the county’s hands were largely tied because the board is limited in what information it can consider.
Director of Building and Zoning Phil Dick said initial requests to the ZBA about the land prompted him to suggest the village should de-annex the land so the county could act. And Cline and Assistant State’s Attorney Don Rood said it wasn’t within the county’s purview to judge how that was done.
“if members of the community in Gridley feel like it's not appropriate in Gridley, you have to take that up with Gridley," Cline said.
The zoning passed with seven no votes.
Honors
The board also honored a group of people, including two of its own, for their service to the county.
- Natalie Roseman-Mendoza departs the county board after one four-year term representing south Bloomington’s District 9. She served as vice chair of the Justice Committee and was a member of the Finance Committee, as well as a member of the legislative subcommittee. A Democrat, Roseman-Mendoza did not seek reelection. She will be replaced by Democrat Jennifer Brown.
- Geoff Tompkins also completed one-term, and served on the Justice, Property and Health committees as well as the legislative subcommittee. A Republican, Tompkins was defeated in the November election by John Poling, who will represent parts of Bloomington in District 7.
- Art Rodriguez is retiring after serving on the Veteran’s Assistance Commission [VAC], joining the commission in 2019, and becoming chairman in 2021. The resolution credits Rodriguez with expanding the commission’s capacity, doubling its food bank and increasing transportation access for veterans.
- The board also observed a moment of silence for Jerry Vogler, who died Nov. 2 after serving for 23 years as superintendent of the VAC. He retired July 31.
Parks plan
The board voted to enter into a contract with RVI Hitchcock of Naperville for a comprehensive parks and recreation strategic plan. The contract pays a base $78,900, and details prices for any additional services needed in the future.
The group’s main task will be to plan for the future of Comlara Park and Evergreen Lake now that the previous 50-year plan is concluding. RVI has worked with numerous suburban park districts, including Crystal Lake, Northbrook, Arlington Heights and others.
