Peoria County Board Approves Budget for 2026

The Peoria County Board on Thursday approved Peoria County's $174.2 million budget for fiscal year 2026, which is January 1-December 31, 2026.

Highlights include:

• $31.7 million for capital projects, including $3.5 million in pre-construction services to prepare for upgrades to the Peoria County Jail and numerous road and bridge projects

• Stewardship of taxpayer dollars through strategic drawdowns of reserve savings, with no increase to the property tax rate

• Fully funded wages, benefits, and pensions

"Passing a responsible budget is one of the most important duties of the County Board, and this year's process included thoughtful discussion and meaningful compromise," said James C. Dillon, Peoria County Board Chairperson. "Through the strategic use of reserves, we can invest in key capital projects at our facilities without a property tax rate increases to our residents. This budget supports our team members, strengthens our infrastructure, and positions Peoria County well for the years ahead."

The budget, in its proposed format, is available to view online at https://www.peoriacounty.org/395/Budget-Information.

Changes brought forth during the meeting, including a procedural amendment to appropriate up to $2 million in FY 2026 savings from 28 vacant positions into the FY 2027 budget; and an amendment to move $33,165 from the County Board departmental budget to the Capital Project Fund for the Jail Master Plan implementation, will be reflected in the coming days.