The Lake County Board has approved a $676.6 million budget for its fiscal year 2026.

The city of Rochelle’s fiscal 2026 budget is $13 million less than the previous year’s, primarily due to less spending on capital projects, City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said.

The proposed 2025 property tax rate for the city of Dixon is about $2.29 per $100 of equalized assessed value, an increase from the 2024 rate of $1.72. City officials estimate a $29 bill increase for a home valued at $100,000

Dixon Public Schools expects the 2025 property tax rate to decrease slightly from 2024 due to projected increases in assessment values.

Officials expect it will result in an estimated bill increase of $13.03 for a home valued at $150,000, according to the approved tax ordinance.

The overall 2026 budget represents a $19 million decrease due to significant capital improvement projects being completed in 2025, though the levy includes an addition $200,000 in revenue.

Since most homes in Lockport saw an increase in assessed value last year, the average homeowner will likely see some increase in taxes paid to the city, the city said.

A public hearing on the budget will be held during the City Council meeting on Wednesday Nov. 19, as well as the initial hearing on the property tax levy.

From Capitol News Illinois: The governor’s office said in an email to Capitol News Illinois that it does not intend to release the state-approved funding until it sees “stability” on federal education policy coming from Washington

From Capitol News Illinois: Most state agencies were required to submit spending cut plans to Gov. JB Pritzker by Oct. 23, but the governor’s office has declined to release details about those plans

The proposed 2025 property tax rate is 82.42 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value, an increase from the 2024 rate of 79.46 cents.

DuPage County Board members not receptive to clerk’s request for additional funding

Rochelle held a retirement celebration and open house Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, for Finance Director Chris Cardott, who will retire at the end of the year after 20 years with the city.

With a focus on protecting land and connecting people to nature, the Lake County Forest Preserves’ Board of Commissioners approved its 2026 budget on Oct. 15.

DuPage County Recorder Elizabeth Chaplin is asking county board members to reconsider her initial ask for a $1.8 million budget for the coming fiscal year.

From Capitol News Illinois: The premium hike is the result of a federal budget change that was included in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” That provision ends the enhanced tax credits that subsidize the cost of premiums for people who meet income guidelines.

The Dixon Public School Board is looking into contracting with a solar vendor to potentially decrease its energy costs over the long term.

The Chicago Bears are poised to move to the suburbs. But are Illinois lawmakers – and local taxpayers – going to help them do it?

From Capitol News Illinois: State spending likely to increase significantly in coming years as Medicaid, SNAP requirements set in

This event will provide constituents with suggestions for reducing their utility bills. The clinic will be hosted at the Sterling Public Library, 102 W. Third St., in Sterling.

Dixon School Board has approved a $1.7 million deficit budget for fiscal 2026, mainly due to a $4.6 million drop in federal funding. The district is exploring cost-saving measures but won’t cut staff this year.

Plunged into a government shutdown, the U.S. is confronting a fresh cycle of uncertainty after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline

Employee furloughs and potential layoffs would halt some government activities. Other functions — like NASA’s space missions, President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and certain public health work at FDA and the USDA — would continue

Democratic and Republican congressional leaders are heading to the White House for a meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday in a late effort to avoid a government shutdown

The increased Illinois minimum wage appears to be a key factor in the lack of workers at area animal shelters.

DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy has announced a balanced-budget plan that calls for new affordable housing efforts, supporting food pantries and a “stronger social service infrastructure.”

From Capitol News Illinois: Gov. Pritzker said the order is designed to combat federal policies by the Trump administration that are likely to increase costs on the state and put pressure on the economy

Following suit of numerous municipalities across Illinois, the Momence City Council recently approved the 1% grocery tax.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said in a statement that the Constitution “makes clear that Congress has the responsibility for the power of the purse” and any effort to claw back funds “without congressional approval is a clear violation of the law.”

The Village of Montgomery has been awarded for their fiscal year 2026 budget, recognizing the village’s commitment to transparency, communication with its residents and financial planning.

Illinois saw 142 tornadoes in 2024. With weather teams stretched thin because of federal budget cuts, forecasters warn the next storm might slip through the cracks

The funding amounts received by these Will County school districts is based on factors including enrollment, poverty rate, number of special education and English-language learner students.

The Illinois State Board of Education’s announcement of a $15.85 billion education budget for fiscal 2026 has drawn cautious optimism from Sterling Public Schools as the district awaits final details of its allocation under the state’s evidence-based funding (EBF) formula.

An approximate $9.5-million bond sale is in Kankakee's future to deal with a variety of issues, chief among them a large investment into the rehab of many crumbling city streets.

Will County schools could face complications funding some of their programs in the coming months following a grant funding freeze by the Trump Administration. The State of Illinois has joined a lawsuit demanding the release of the grant money.

The Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees approved a $318 million budget for the current fiscal year, with one trustee abstaining and another voting against it out of financial concerns.

Manteno Village Board OKs paying for garbage fees and will rebate local property taxes.

At nearly 900 pages, the legislation is a sprawling collection of tax breaks, spending cuts, and other Republican priorities, including new money for national defense and deportations

The state also ended the fiscal year with $1.9 billion of cash in the General Revenue Fund after all bills were paid, according to the Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s office

Republican leaders in the House are sprinting toward a Wednesday vote on President Donald Trump’s tax and spending cuts package

State lawmakers in Will County spoke at a Joliet casino about the recent passage of the largest budget in state history and the possibility of making adjustments to the budget later this year.

Will County has received an award for budgetary quality and transparency from the Government Finance Officers Association.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed Illinois’ fiscal 2026 budget into law Monday, taking shots at President Donald Trump’s budget management to defend hard choices state lawmakers were forced to make this year

Transit agency officials met this week and formally began the process of planning for next year’s budget, including drawing up plans for major service cuts and potential layoffs

Joliet Public Schools District 86 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Rouse and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Tanisha Cannon discuss proposed changes to school funding, diversity initiatives, and technology policies from the Department of Education with Herald-News Reporter Jessie Molloy.

Herald-News reporter Jessie Molloy discusses Department of Education proposed changes and possible funding cuts with Joliet Township High School District 204 Superintendent Dr. Karla Guseman.

Only six months into the job, Senate Majority Leader John Thune faces a massive challenge as he tries to quickly push President Donald Trump’s sprawling tax and spending cuts package to passage with the support of a divided GOP conference

Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202's Superintendent Dr. Glenn Wood discusses the district's contingency plans for lost funding following a series of new rules from the Department of Education with Herald-News reporter Jessie Molloy.

Sterling is one step closer to receiving a River Edge Redevelopment Zone designation that could provide up to $50 million in tax incentives for economic development work the city has already started along its riverfront.

Jessie Molloy discusses recent changes at the department of Education with Lockport Township High School District 205 Superintendent Dr. Robert McBride.