Proposed 2023 state budget includes tax breaks, debt reduction
Governor JB Pritzker unveiled a proposed $45.4 billion budget for 2023 that includes one-time tax reductions and the paying down of a number of long-time state debts.
The governor’s budget proposes helping ease the current burden inflation is placing on household budgets by lifting the 1% sales tax on groceries, freezing the indexed increase on the state motor-fuel tax, and creating a one-time property tax rebate of up to $300 for people who qualify for the state’s income tax credit.
The proposed budget also includes spending billions to pay down $898 million in past-due bills for the state employee health insurance program, making whole the $230 million debt in the College Illinois plan, adding $800 million to the state’s nearly empty rainy-day fund, and paying an extra $500 million toward the debts in the five state-run pension systems.
You can watch the governor’s State of the State and budget address by clicking here, and you can read it here. The state’s 2023 fiscal year begins July 1.
Advance McHenryCounty grant benefits Child Advocacy Center
Applications for Advance McHenryCounty funding grants are still open! Click here to learn more and to apply!
The Child Advocacy Center of McHenryCounty will get a $500,000 grant from the Advance McHenryCounty initiative to help children who have been victims of abuse.
Its grant, which was included in the first round of Advance grants approved last month by the County Board, will allow the Child Advocacy Center to provide extensive child abuse investigation training for law enforcement, mental health professionals and medical providers countywide. It also will help the center purchase needed supplies for children and families displaced by abuse.
You can learn more about the Child Advocacy Center, which has served child abuse victims since 1999, by clicking here.
Programs like these are exactly what the County Board had in mind when it created Advance McHenryCounty to distribute millions in federal COVID-19 funding directly into our communities. The County Board is expected to approve two more awards this month – keep reading to learn about them!
Algonquin-LITH Chamber hitting ground running on 70th birthday
The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 70th anniversary with growth and increased advocacy.
Its 330 member businesses include two new ones inaugurated this month with ribbon cuttings, and Executive Director Jamie Griffiths’ goal is to get to 370 by year’s end – right above its all-time high of 368 before the pandemic hit.
Besides growing membership, Griffiths said she wants to increase member advocacy and build bridges with local and state government to make their voices heard about issues affecting them.
Upcoming events include an inaugural April 23 downtown wine walk, and the annual June 6 golf outing at Boulder Ridge Country Club that last year set an all-time attendance record.
The McHenryCounty Workforce Network has launched a new weekly newsletter aimed at young adults.
The newsletter promotes the network’s Young Adult Program, which highlights workforce preparation and post-secondary education and training options for young adults looking to find the right career. It caters to in-school young adults between ages 14 and 21, and out-of-school young adults between 16 and 24.
Readers can find informative articles about their options, which puts them at their fingertips with a click or a tap.
Give the gift of McHenryCounty Made for your sweetheart
Next Monday is Valentine’s Day, and after the past couple of years we’ve had, it’s important to, well, show some love to the people we love.
Our locally owned businesses have had one heck of a past couple of years, too, and thanks to our friends at Naturally McHenryCounty, it’s easy for you to show them some love as well while you’re shopping for that perfect gift.
Click here to find an awesome list of gift ideas, from chocolate, beer and homemade bath bombs, to date nights and date nights in.
Tickle your funny bone with a month of stand-up and improv comedy
Speaking of the hard past couple of years, we also could all use a few good laughs – and several of our local businesses are opening their doors to some much-needed comedy.
Rush Creek Distilling in Harvard is offering a free evening of stand-up comedy from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, with the Gracie’s Kitchen food truck complementing their wide variety of drinks.
The Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake will be hosting the GreenRoom Improv comedy troupe that night as well, but don’t fret – they’ll be back for shows on March 5, April 22, May 14 and June 10! Click here to buy tickets.
The Raue Center also will be hosting a stand-up night with Lucy’s Comedy on March 4, May 13 and June 10! Again, you can click here to learn more and purchase tickets.
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