Mercer County budget committee reports revenues rising; trial budget set for Sept. 16

County Administrator Al Zwilling told the Mercer County Board on Sept. 8 that the Budget Committee has received first-draft departmental budgets and will run a trial budget at its Sept. 16 meeting. Zwilling said staff reviewed line items using zero-based budgeting practices and that "revenues are trending up, and expenses are trending down," citing Illinois Department of Revenue projections for sales tax, income tax, local use tax and replacement taxes that the packet estimated would increase roughly 7.77% for planning purposes.

Zwilling also reported ongoing work to meet IDOT compliance for county engineering, an IEPA extension approved through Oct. 31, 2026, and continued review of cellphone contracts and grant opportunities. The Budget Committee will meet Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. to run the trial budget and then hold individual department meetings to refine line items and notes. No budget motions were recorded at the Sept. 8 meeting.