Will County Gazette

Residents of Will County are expressing their concerns and frustration over the proposed maximum tax levy increase being proposed by the Democrat contingent on the Will County board.

The potential increase of $548 per $100,000 assessment has raised alarm among residents, leading to a call for a significant turnout at the upcoming board meeting on October 19th at 9:30 am, located at 302 N Chicago St. in Joliet.

“Will County is looking to raise taxes additionally by I want to say another $8 million,” Tina McGrath told the Will County Gazette.  

“To me, there's a real gap between the citizens of the community and those spending our money. I don't think the board members and Will County board understand how tapped out people really are. And there's just a disconnect. I know in conversations I've had with board members that the Democrats on the board recognize that a recession is looming. So they want to ask for this money now while they can get it. And to me, that defeats the purpose. If you want to make people's lives easier, stop raising their taxes.”

In addition, another $10 million is being requested for a new mental health board,

“This is not this is another area that has been kept very murky and hidden from taxpayers,” McGrath said.

“The board is composed of 'volunteers.' And what people don't realize is these volunteers are all getting county laptops, office space, big office equipment and everything else that they're going to need, or that they are perceived to need, in order to serve on the board. And then they presented a two page document with a pie chart showing where the expenses, where the money was supposed to go, and just not enough detail. This is going to impact all of us and our property taxes.”

“And the community, I think, is getting hosed where we're not being told the truth about the real costs associated with this board.”

The agenda for the meeting includes “Determination of the Estimate of the Annual Aggregate Levy” and and “Estimate Levy for the Community Mental Health Board.”

The Will County Board is in the process of estimating the Annual Aggregate Levy for 2023 as part of the budget preparation, in accordance with legal requirements, and recommends specific estimates for adoption. The final levy will need to comply with the Truth in Taxation Act, and these estimates will guide the process.

The new levy would increase the county’s take to $151,568,664 for the next fiscal year, an increase over 2022’s $143,509,676.

The Will County Board will also determine its estimate for the 2023 Community Mental Health Board Levy, which will be levied upon real property in accordance with applicable laws.

The proposed levy, amounting to $10,000,000, is a part of the ongoing budget process for the 2024 Will County Budget.