Revenues History

The following chart shows the revenue history for Kankakee County for the years 1992 through 1997 based on information extracted from the Annual Financial Audits for Kankakee County.

This chart reflects only revenue received from Real Estate Property Taxes and Sales Taxes received from retail sales in the county.

It does not include revenues received by the county from other sources (i.e. government transfer payments (grant funds) or receipts from services rendered (permit fees and fines).

Source--Kankakee County Annual Financial Audit Reports 1992 through 1997.

The average increase in Real Property Tax Receipts by the county from 1992 through 1997 was 9.51%--nearly three times the rate of inflation. It should be noted that not all property taxes are spent on public safety. The county has many other responsibilities besides public safety (roads, animal control, code enforcement, etc.).

Sales tax revenue to the county increased an average of 6.91% (more than double the rate of inflation) for the same time period.

In addition to the two local sources of revenue ( Property and Sales Taxes), the county receives funding for public safety from both the State and Federal levels through the many grant programs.

Spending History

While the revenues received by the county have far exceeded the rate of inflation, the expenditures have grown at an even faster rate. To sustain the rate of growth in public safety expenditures requires either a new revenue source or an increase in existing revenue sources. The implementation of Tax Caps in Kankakee County has reduced the growth rate in Real Estate Property Tax receipts to the county. The only alternative available to the county to sustain current spending growth rates is to increase its other primary revenue source (Sales Taxes) by increasing the rate. A question to consider is: Should the county sustain its current rate of Public Safety spending increases based on current crime rate trends?

The following chart summarizes the history of spending in two areas (Public Safety and Judiciary) of local government as reported to the Illinois Comptroller. Note from 1994 to 1997 spending for Public Safety increased from $3,542,888 to $4,373,276 or 23.43% and spending for the Judiciary (Courts) increased from $2,279,104 to $3,605,403 or 58.19%. These two areas received an additional $2,156,687 in resources during the four year time period (37% more).

Public Safety and Judiciary Spending

*Source--Illinois Comptrollers Office as reported by Kankakee County and verified on County Financial Audit Report

Considering the serious crime situation that existed in the county in 1993, 1994, and 1995, these expenditure increases appear to be well justified to deal with the crime at that time. Perhaps, we are reaping the benefits of a lower rate of crime today as a result of that investment. However, are we justified in continuing to increase expenditures?

The following graphs show the history of expenditures by the county by department. The first graph shows Total Spending for Judiciary combined with Sheriff's Department and Corrections (Note--Sheriff's Department and Corrections do not make up the entire Public Safety Budget--Coroner, Auxiliary Police, Merit Commission and ESDA are also included in Public Safety Budget).

Total spending has increased an average of 8.2% per year from 1992 through 1997.

Conclusion of Part 1 of OUTRAGE'S Special Public Safety Report

This concludes Part 1 of this Public Safety Report. Coming, in Part 2, is an analysis of Arrests, Prosecutions, Convictions and Sentencing results for Kankakee County and an explanation of how they effect the county jail population.

Your comments are welcome.