Budget For McHenry County Government

A new fiscal year for McHenry County Government (and the citizens in McHenry County) begins December 1. A budget for the new year was adopted by the County Board at its November 20 County Board meeting.

Highlights of the proposed FY13 Budget are noted below.

In developing the FY13 Budget, McHenry County maintained the professional, conservative approach to budgeting that earned an Aaa bond rating from Moody’s Investor Services.  McHenry County is one of only three counties in Illinois (also Lake & DuPage) to have earned in this distinction.

The McHenry County Board directed staff not to capture the allowable inflationary growth in the property tax extension.  The County is collecting $2.3 million less than is allowable under tax cap law.

The proposed FY13 Budget is $250,077,103.  This compares to the current FY12 Budget which was approved at $256,714,170.

In developing the FY13 Budget, the County is responding to a revenue environment that continues to be challenging with a corresponding control on expenses.

There are no dramatic cuts to services, but as in recent years, there are adjustments and reductions in almost all areas of County Government.

The proposed FY13 Budget maintains compensation parity between union and non-union employees.

Through an active management of the employee roster, there are 83 positions that have now been eliminated since 2009 and 19 positions have been added to the roster through consolidation and rethinking responsibilities.  The result is 64 fewer positions than three years ago.

A copy of the proposed McHenry County FY13 Budget can be found in the County Clerk’s Office or on the County website at www.co.mchenry.il.us under “Quick Links”. For more information, please contact Adam Lehmann at 815-334-0309.