McClellan Gains Support for Rapid Election Software Payment

“Houston, we have a problem,” began McHenry County Clerk Mary McClellan’s presentation of the Finance Committee of the County Board Wednesday. She explained that she could not conduct the February 28th township primary elections without the voting software from Dominion Voting … Continue reading

McHenry County’s Chief Financial Officer Ralph Scarbaugh Recognized

A press release from McHenry County: Ralph Sarbaugh, CFO of the Year Our very own Ralph Sarbaugh, Associate County Administrator – Finance, has been selected as one of nine honorees for this year’s Daily Herald CFO of the Year Award. Beginning his … Continue reading

County Eliminates $3 Million Valley Hi Tax

The all-Republican McHenry County Board  Tuesday night voted unanimously to cut the tax levy for the Valley Hi Nursing Home to zero. The significant amendment did not even require a roll call, as County Board Chairman Joe Gottemoller called for … Continue reading

Justification of Valley Hi’s $40 Million in the Bank

Peter Austin unveiled graphic results of Valley Hi Administrator Tom Annarella’s modeling efforts Tuesday. All versions assumed that the levy would be cut from $3 million to $2.250 million. The first version, seen below, shows the Valley Hi bank account … Continue reading

Finance Committee Fight over Valley Hi Taxes – Part 2

At this point Barnes weighed in. “That’s concerns me,”  she said. “You don’t solve that $20 million problem by [lowering the levy]. “I disagree,” Barnes replied. “If you’re going to be thinking about another facility,” Walkup said, “I think that … Continue reading

Finance Committee Provides Dilemma for Gottemoller

The Finance Committee has laid a dilemma in McHenry County Board Chairman Joe Gottemoller’s lap. The ordinance laying out the tax levy for county government was to be on the agenda of the next County Board meeting. It has to … Continue reading

McHenry County Recognized for Budget Presentation

A press release from McHenry County: McHenry County receives the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association WOODSTOCK, IL: McHenry County, IL was honored with GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its current budget. The award represents a significant … Continue reading

Skala Proposes No Fringe Benefits for County Board Members

In the last Republican Primary election two candidates campaigning on not taking pension and health benefits. They were District 1 candidates Andrew Gasser and David Stieper.  Gasser won the primary and the election, while Stieper lost to incumbent Republican Robert … Continue reading

Valley Hi Surplus Discussed by Public Health Committee

Today I went to the 8:30 AM meeting of the McHenry County Board’s Public Health Committee. Lots of interesting information surfaced as budgets from various departments were outlined. During the public comment time, I asked for an explanation of the … Continue reading