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This special edition of the Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views E-Newsletter includes a link to an analysis of Governor Pritzker's SFY 2027 Budget proposal. The Governor delivered his State of the State and Budget Address at noon today. The Newsletter also raises concerns about a new housing agenda proposed by the Governor.

As Illinois navigates a shifting federal landscape and cooling revenue growth, the State Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal centers on "common-sense fiscal planning" to protect recent financial gains. This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the $56.0 billion spending plan, highlighting the Governor's core priorities in education, human services, and long-term pension sustainability. The impact of the budget on LGDF and Motor Fuel Taxes is also included. For county leaders, this report also identifies critical opportunities within the $57.4 billion capital budget, including $500 million for downstate infrastructure, while examining the administrative and cost-sharing risks posed by new federal mandates. By bridging state-level fiscal strategy with local operational impacts, this briefing serves as a vital roadmap for navigating the upcoming fiscal cycle.

This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views E-Newsletter includes a legislative schedule and update, informs county officials and staff what counties should watch out for in the Governor's upcoming Budget Address, shares a funding opportunity for projects at wastewater treatment plants, highlights America 250’s Keepsake Illinois Passport that residents and visitors can collect, encourages county officials to attend the February 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference, includes registration information for the 2026 ISACo/UCCI Legislative Conference, invites county officials and staff to contribute an article to ISACo's County Quarterly Newsletter, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, conveys information about upcoming NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Public Surplus and invites counties to join ISACo.

Welcome to the first installment of The County Lens by Executive Director Joe McCoy. My goal with this series is simple: to look at what’s happening in Springfield and Washington and translate it into what it actually means for counties on the ground. With Governor JB Pritzker about to deliver his budget address, this piece focuses on what county officials should be listening for, where the real fiscal pressures are building, and how shifts in federal funding, health care policy, and the economy could affect local budgets and services. Counties don’t just live with these decisions—we implement them. The County Lens is about keeping that perspective front and center.

This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views E-newsletter includes a legislative update, advocates for appropriate levels of funding in the next Federal Surface Transportation Bill, shares the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) January 2026 Monthly Briefing, highlights surplus equipment programs, provides an update about the Illinois Liquor Control Commission Portal, announces a statewide e-bike safety initiative, shares information on more than $3 Million for Local Food Infrastructure Grant awards to communities across Illinois, informs county officials and staff of the AARP Community Challenge Grant Program, reports that the Immunization Schedule from American Academy of Pediatrics has been approved by the Illinois Department of Health (IDPH), encourages county officials to attend the February 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference, includes registration information for the 2026 ISACo/UCCI Legislative Conference, invites county officials and staff to contribute an article to ISACo's County Quarterly Newsletter, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, conveys information about upcoming NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner PMA-IPRIME and invites counties to join ISACo.

This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views E-newsletter includes a legislative update, shares photos from the 2025 ISACo Annual Luncheon, links to the January 2026 County Quarterly newsletter, encourages county officials to attend the February 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference, includes registration information for the 2026 ISACo/UCCI Legislative Conference, invites county officials and staff to contribute an article to ISACo's County Quarterly Newsletter, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, conveys information about upcoming NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Mahoney, Silverman and Cross, LLC. and invites counties to join ISACo.

This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter includes several highlighted bills of interest to counties, features a new episode of ISACo's Counties Count! Podcast that discusses what Illinois House and Senate leaders anticipate for the months ahead, highlights more than $480 million in state spending reductions to buffer potential federal funding disruptions and revenue shortfalls, makes county officials and staff aware of the Illinois Department of Health (IDPH) teaming up with other states on maintaining global health awareness following the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), includes a "Save the Date" for the 2026 ISACo/UCCI Legislative Conference, invites county officials and staff to contribute an article to ISACo's County Quarterly Newsletter, encourages county officials to attend the February 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, conveys information about upcoming NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Nationwide and invites counties to join ISACo.

This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter includes information on the signing of the Clean Slate Act into law, announces Governor Priztker's combined State of the State and Budget Address next month, recaps a series of policy and advocacy discussions held during a National Association of Counties (NACo) event in Washington D.C. last week, shares the Illinois Department of Revenue's (IDOR) January Local Government Newsletter, highlights the Electric Vehicle Rebate Program, informs county officials and staff about a grant opportunity from the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew Program, includes a "Save the Date" for the 2026 ISACo/UCCI Legislative Conference, provides information on NACo's upcoming National Leadership Academy Program, invites county officials and staff to contribute an article to ISACo's County Quarterly Newsletter, encourages county officials to attend the February 2026 NACo Legislative Conference, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, includes NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Comcast and invites counties to join ISACo.

This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter provides an update about a federal hold of childcare and family assistance funding to Illinois and four other states, reports on Governor Pritzker's signing of the energy bill, shares ISACo's updated Public Acts Report: Legislation of Interest to Counties in 2025, links to a list of new laws affecting or of interest to counties taking effect in 2026, shares an update about Illinois' November employment rate, includes a "Save the Date" for the 2026 ISACo/UCCI Legislative Conference, invites county officials and staff to contribute an article to ISACo's County Quarterly Newsletter, encourages county officials to attend the February 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, conveys information about upcoming NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner AT&T and invites counties to join ISACo. 

This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter includes bill actions taken by Governor JB Pritzker, shares ISACo's updated Public Acts Report: Legislation of Interest to Counties in 2025, links to a list of new laws affecting or of interest to counties taking effect in 2026, provides a round-up of media coverage about several of the new laws, announces ISACo's 2026 Legislative Agenda, includes a "Save the Date" for the 2026 ISACo/UCCI Legislative Conference, links to a report about declining Personal Property Replacement Tax (PPRT) revenues, invites county officials and staff to contribute an article to ISACo's County Quarterly Newsletter, encourages county officials to attend the February 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, conveys information about upcoming NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Savi and invites counties to join ISACo.