McLean County board approves temporary aid for Village of Hudson after tax-billing error
July 17, 2026 | McLean County, Illinois
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The McLean County Board approved an intergovernmental agreement to provide temporary financial assistance to the Village of Hudson after public testimony about an administrative property-tax billing error.
Mayor Mark Cottey of the Village of Hudson thanked the board for considering the agreement and said the county’s action would prevent ‘‘drastic changes’’ the village would otherwise face. ‘‘I just wanted to say thank you very much for considering the intergovernmental agreement between the village of Hudson and McLean County,’’ Cottey said.
Hudson Township Supervisor Michael Grady told the board the error led to Hudson taxpayers being collectively undertaxed by about $81,000 and warned residents will face a separate line-item charge on next year’s bills. ‘‘Taxpayers deserve answers,’’ Grady said, urging disclosure of the total cost of corrections, why safeguards failed, and what steps will prevent a recurrence. He also cited public records indicating the county clerk’s office has exceeded its authorized budget by more than $400,000 and said repeated administrative mistakes erode public confidence.
Finance committee members moved the intergovernmental-agreement item following the public comments; the board approved the measure on a voice vote. Board members who spoke during the item thanked Hudson officials for their partnership in resolving the matter.
The agreement provides temporary, interest-free assistance to address the undercollection; the board’s action does not, by itself, assign fault for the original billing error. County officials earlier in the meeting noted the corrective process will add a separate charge on next year’s tax bills for affected properties. The board did not provide an immediate, itemized tally of total administrative costs tied to correcting the billing issue during the meeting.
Next steps: implementation of the intergovernmental agreement and follow-up communications to impacted taxpayers were described by county staff as part of the finance committee process. The board did not announce additional formal investigations during the session.
(Reporting based on remarks and motions made at the McLean County Board meeting; portions of testimony were delivered by Mayor Mark Cottey and Hudson Township Supervisor Michael Grady.)
Mayor Mark Cottey of the Village of Hudson thanked the board for considering the agreement and said the county’s action would prevent ‘‘drastic changes’’ the village would otherwise face. ‘‘I just wanted to say thank you very much for considering the intergovernmental agreement between the village of Hudson and McLean County,’’ Cottey said.
Hudson Township Supervisor Michael Grady told the board the error led to Hudson taxpayers being collectively undertaxed by about $81,000 and warned residents will face a separate line-item charge on next year’s bills. ‘‘Taxpayers deserve answers,’’ Grady said, urging disclosure of the total cost of corrections, why safeguards failed, and what steps will prevent a recurrence. He also cited public records indicating the county clerk’s office has exceeded its authorized budget by more than $400,000 and said repeated administrative mistakes erode public confidence.
Finance committee members moved the intergovernmental-agreement item following the public comments; the board approved the measure on a voice vote. Board members who spoke during the item thanked Hudson officials for their partnership in resolving the matter.
The agreement provides temporary, interest-free assistance to address the undercollection; the board’s action does not, by itself, assign fault for the original billing error. County officials earlier in the meeting noted the corrective process will add a separate charge on next year’s tax bills for affected properties. The board did not provide an immediate, itemized tally of total administrative costs tied to correcting the billing issue during the meeting.
Next steps: implementation of the intergovernmental agreement and follow-up communications to impacted taxpayers were described by county staff as part of the finance committee process. The board did not announce additional formal investigations during the session.
(Reporting based on remarks and motions made at the McLean County Board meeting; portions of testimony were delivered by Mayor Mark Cottey and Hudson Township Supervisor Michael Grady.)
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