she wanted to make the Committee aware of the consequences and the affects on the
Judiciary as a whole that these cuts would entail.
Circuit Clk. Barreiro stated that the budget cuts that were asked of the Circuit Clerk's
Office (CIC) would amount to the termination of 21 deputy clerks. Per the union
contract's layoff procedures, she explained that new hires would be impacted first due
to the seniority distribution. She stated that layoffs would impact the staffing of deputy
clerks and the courts, first. She explained that in order for her to meet the 2024
expenditure amount, she had to move some position salaries into other funds, which is
not sustainable. Barreiro stated that her office's labor contract is due on December 1,
2025, which only allows the office to operate mandated services, such as staffing all 32
courtrooms. She explained that staff will continue to take time off due to sickness
and/or vacation, which leaves even less employees to carry out the day to day
operations. Due to the decision to cut the FY2026 Budget, she stated that the Circuit
Clerk's Office will no longer be able to provide customer service, such as no answered
phone calls, no opportunity to pay fees/fines outside of court, and no satellite offices to
assist constituents. She explained that all payments will have to be sent into the Clerk's
Office via mail and/or online. She stated that the County does not understand that the
Circuit Clerk's Office provides customer service. She noted that if there are no deputy
clerks in the courtrooms, the courts cannot operate, which will delay court proceedings
for the Judiciary, State's Attorney's Office, and Public Defender's Office.
Undersheriff Johnson explained that when the Kane County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) is
asked to cut their annual budget, it puts lives and safety at risk. These budget cuts will
lessen patrol, jail operations, and emergency responses, which create a liability.
Johnson explained that delayed response times can create a negligent claim, and
inadequate inmate care opens the door to civil rights lawsuits. Additionally, forced staff
reductions trigger union grievances and staff violations. As Sheriff Hain has suggested,
every dollar cut from public safety is a potential lawsuit for the County. Johnson spoke
on the waterfall affect for all Judicial partners, when the KCSO cannot operate properly.
She stated that law enforcement upholds public safety, liability, and community safety.
She explained that these potential lawsuits could create a loss in community trust. She
stated that the Sheriff has continued to work in good faith with his budget, but has
continually been asked to cut more. She questioned at what point is too much.
State's Attorney Mosser stated that her office was asked to cut over $3M from their
annual budget; $1.9M from the County's General Fund and $1.3M that was not
awarded by the Riverboat Grant. She mentioned that she was asked by the County
Board to move employee salaries into the Riverboat Fund, but was denied this funding.
The results of this budget cut would be the termination of 40 employees. Mosser stated
that all the Judiciary partners provide services. With these budget cuts, the County
Board will be terminating all investigations and prosecution of child pornography cases,
in which the County has been sued for. Additionally, these cuts mean that the County
Board would like victims of crimes to navigate the criminal justice system without
trained advocates there for assistance. Mosser explained that these cuts reflect the
well deserved pay equity increase that the County Board granted. She stated that this
County Board is telling employees of Kane County that they cannot be compensated
the same as other surrounding counties. She reminded the Committee that all judiciary
and public safety budgets had to increase due to unfunded mandates such as the
