WCO-Finance-Aug-5.1

Will County Health Department Seeks $1 Million to Avert ‘Drastic’ Service Cuts from Expiring Grants

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Health Department is requesting an additional $1 million in county funding for its 2026 budget to prevent the elimination of 11 critical staff positions, warning that expiring grants will otherwise lead to significant cuts in core public health services.
Key Points:
• Due to expiring COVID-era and other non-recurring grants, the department faces a nearly $1 million funding shortfall from the loss of ARPA funds and grants for respiratory surveillance and workforce development.
• The request aims to retain 11 of 15 at-risk positions in mandated programs, including maternal-child health, immunizations, and communicable disease investigation.
• Without the funding, officials said services like the homebound vaccination program and school-based immunization clinics would be eliminated, and the department’s ability to respond to disease outbreaks would be halved.

JOLIET – The Will County Health Department is facing a nearly $1 million budget shortfall due to expiring grants, prompting officials to ask the County Board for a $1 million lifeline to save 11 critical positions and prevent a significant reduction in core public health services.

During a presentation to the Will County Board’s Finance Committee on Tuesday, health department leaders detailed how the end of COVID-related funding and other non-recurring grants threatens to dismantle a workforce that was expanded to meet recent public health crises.

“The pandemic showed what a stronger public health system could look like,” said Elizabeth Bilotta of the Will County Health Department, quoting a national health official. “Public health threats aren’t going away. They are returning… to an even more weakened system just as chronic health challenges, opioid overdoses, maternal health issues, and future outbreaks demand more, not less, of our local public health workforce.”

The $1 million request is intended to be built into the county’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The funds would retain 11 of 15 at-risk employees in four key areas: maternal-child health, immunizations, communicable disease investigation, and the HIV/STI program. Officials stressed that these are mandated services the department, as a certified local health department, is required to provide.

Sylvia Munes, a master’s prepared nurse with the department, provided emotional testimony about the real-world impact of these programs. She described how a nurse in the Better Birth Outcomes program, which serves high-risk pregnant women and infants, helped a mother recognize a lack of fetal movement, leading to an emergency C-section that saved a baby whose umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck.

“If mom had not paid attention to her body, if she had not been receiving that support from the nurse, this could have very well resulted in a demise and a death for this family,” Munes said.

Without the requested funding, officials warned the impact would be severe. The nursing staff for the immunization program would be cut in half, eliminating the homebound vaccination program and school-based clinics that recently helped hundreds of students in Joliet School District 86 and Plainfield meet vaccination requirements.

The communicable disease investigation team would also lose four investigators, halving its ability to conduct contact tracing and surveillance for outbreaks.

Board members expressed concern over the potential cuts while acknowledging the county’s longstanding practice of eliminating positions when grant funding ends.

“This is going to be a big deviation if we go this route from our normal process,” said Board Member Jacqueline Traynere. “We do not keep projects when the grant money goes, the project goes, and that includes the employees.”

However, Traynere added, “I really want to find the million dollars… you’ve certainly presented a really good case here for what you need and why you need it.”

The Finance Committee took no action on the request, which was informational, but the discussion will continue as the county begins its 2026 budget process.

Events

26 Aug
28 Aug
28 Aug
29 Aug
30 Aug
30 Aug 25
30 Aug
30 Aug 25

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

WCO-Landfill-8.5.25.2

Report Finding Few Trucks Littering Sparks Debate on Cleanup Responsibility

Article Summary: A Will County report found that a very small percentage of waste-hauling trucks are the source of litter on roadways near the county landfill, sparking a debate among...
Illinois quick hits: Search continues for Gibson City suspect; manufacturing declines since 2000

Illinois quick hits: Search continues for Gibson City suspect; manufacturing declines since 2000

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Search continues for Gibson City suspect Illinois State Police continue their search for a suspect wanted in connection with a Gibson...
Vance praises troops as backbone of Trump's peace campaign

Vance praises troops as backbone of Trump’s peace campaign

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Vice President J.D. Vance told American and United Kingdom troops their contributions allow President Donald Trump to pursue peace worldwide. The vice president's comments come...
Trump orders drug stockpile, increased manufacturing

Trump orders drug stockpile, increased manufacturing

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square President Donald Trump ordered administration officials to draw up a list of 26 key drugs to develop a stockpile in the United States. His executive...
WATCH: Map debate, case against Texas Democrats continues in Illinois

WATCH: Map debate, case against Texas Democrats continues in Illinois

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois Republican lawmaker says a judge’s ruling this week did not end the case against Texas...
WATCH: Illinois GOP State Fair rally takes aim at Pritzker, ‘woke agenda’

WATCH: Illinois GOP State Fair rally takes aim at Pritzker, ‘woke agenda’

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) − Republicans took their turn at the Illinois State Fair to call out Illinois Democrats for what the...
WATCH: Small business group: Pritzker-signed bills are wrong move

WATCH: Small business group: Pritzker-signed bills are wrong move

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) − Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation that he says will protect workers, but a small business advocate...
Grand Canyon fire now 54% contained; 144,432 acres burned

Grand Canyon fire now 54% contained; 144,432 acres burned

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square America’s largest active wildfire is now 54% contained, according to a report on a U.S. government website. Containment of the Dragon Bravo Fire in Arizona...
Report: Post-election audits in swing states insufficient

Report: Post-election audits in swing states insufficient

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square A recent report analyzed the 2024 post-election audits of seven swing states, finding that many were “inadequate” and lacking “transparency.” In Michigan, it found that...
U.S. producer prices surge in July as tariffs increase costs

U.S. producer prices surge in July as tariffs increase costs

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square U.S. wholesale inflation surged last month, a sign that President Donald Trump's tariffs are boosting costs and higher prices may be on the way. The...
Colorado sued over social media warnings for minors

Colorado sued over social media warnings for minors

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square An internet trade group filed a lawsuit against Colorado Thursday morning, challenging a new law that would require social media platforms to regularly send pop-up...
WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Thursday Aug. 14th, 2025

WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Thursday Aug. 14th, 2025

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares highlights from...
Chicago’s commercial property taxes spike to twice national city average

Chicago’s commercial property taxes spike to twice national city average

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago business owners are now being forced to pay some of the highest commercial property taxes...
Illinois quick hits: Court rejects lawsuit against Texas Democrats; no charges for police

Illinois quick hits: Court rejects lawsuit against Texas Democrats; no charges for police

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Court rejects lawsuit against Texas Democrats An Adams County judge has rejected a lawsuit against 33 Texas House Democrats who absconded...
Illinois judge rejects Texas legislature lawsuit over absconding Dems

Illinois judge rejects Texas legislature lawsuit over absconding Dems

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square An Illinois judge has rejected a lawsuit filed by the state of Texas against 33 House Democrats who absconded from the state to stop legislative...