Shelby Co. (ECWd) –
For years, we have been hearing talk of how well off the county is, to the tune of over $20,000,000.00. Those same people, some now county board members, took great strides in bashing the County Treasurer regarding the amount of interest that could be earned if she would do as they wish, invest in the Illinois Fund. Along with those arguments was the claim that earning more interest would ease the burden on the taxpayers.
We heard the same argument about the county-owned farm. It’s a money generator that eases the burden on the taxpayers.
Does the math support their propaganda?
- 2024-2025 Tax Levy – $5,525,161.00
- 2025-2026 Tax Levy – $5,490,666.00
The result: the tax levy was reduced by a whopping $34,495.00. Now don’t get this wrong, we think it’s great that a public body actually cut the tax burden on the taxpayers; however, patting themselves on the back in light of the other factors ignored by this board indicates some still don’t get it.
- Farm income for 2025 – $51,220.00
- Interest Earned on Taxpayer funds held by the County – $446,593.62.
Total revenue earned in just those two examples – $497,813.62
So, the question is, why wasn’t the tax levy reduced by $497,813.62, considering political arguments claimed those revenues would ease the burden on the taxpayers? The fact is, those revenues never ease the burden unless they are actually offsetting the tax being collected, which this board only offset $34,495.00. That figure is $463,318.62 shy of what they could have done for the taxpayers just in the two examples provided.
While the board chairman took pride in the reduction of the levy through a note he had read for him due to his absence, we note there was no letter read to the board about how great they did on the budget, which is where the money gets spent. The adopted general fund budget was increased once again. The result, until public bodies reduce spending, the taxpayers will never see relief.
- 2025 General Fund Budget Expenditures (see page 22) – $8,475,784.00
- 2026 General Fund Budget Expenditures (see page 38)- $9,003,607.00
What this indicates is over half a million ($527,823.00) in increased General Fund spending while bragging about a $34,495.00 reduction in the tax levy. Hardly something to be proud of.
While we await the long overdue audit for the county, it may show actual expenditures were even higher than originally budgeted. We note that while past late audits drew “outrage” from several of these board members, they sit silent over the current audit be long overdue. Hypocrisy is alive in the twilight zone of Shelby County.
Below is the video of this month’s regular county board meeting.
