Tensions Flare as Board Members Clash Over Budget Process and Protocol

Will County Board Meeting | December 4, 2025

Article Summary: A special meeting intended to fix a budget error turned contentious as board members traded accusations regarding transparency, meeting conduct, and the political maneuvering behind the budget deficit. Board Member Destinee Ortiz was ruled out of order during a heated exchange with County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant.

Meeting Protocol and Conduct Key Points:

• Muted Microphone: Board Member Destinee Ortiz was silenced by the chair while attempting to discuss alleged interference with the State’s Attorney’s advice during a previous meeting.

• “Weaponized Confusion”: Member Mark Revis apologized to legal staff for previous comments but maintained that the budget process was chaotic.

• Call for Reform: Multiple members demanded a new resolution requiring staff—not the board—to identify cuts if a levy is reduced in the future.

JOLIET, Ill. — While the Will County Board managed to pass a balanced budget resolution on Thursday, December 4, 2025, the proceedings were marked by sharp exchanges regarding the board’s operating procedures and the events leading up to the deficit.

Tension peaked when Board Member Destinee Ortiz (D-Romeoville) attempted to discuss why the special meeting was necessary. Ortiz alleged that during the previous full board meeting, the County Executive’s Chief of Staff prevented the State’s Attorney’s office from advising the board on how to properly use reserves, which she claimed necessitated Thursday’s special session.

“You are being inappropriate,” County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant told Ortiz, ruling her out of order for discussing non-agenda items during a motion to amend figures. “You are disruptive to this county board meeting.”

Ortiz continued to speak over the Executive until her microphone was muted. She later revisited her comments during the member comment section, accusing the Executive’s office of manufacturing panic about a potential government shutdown.

“The real problem is the process,” Ortiz said. “We receive a 500-page budget in August with no departmental hearings… and no opportunity for the public to understand it.”

Republicans also expressed frustration with the process. Member Steve Balich (R-Homer Glen) called for a future resolution to codify that if the board votes for a tax levy lower than the proposed budget, county staff must be responsible for identifying the necessary spending cuts.

“The county board is incapable of finding the cuts because we would never agree,” Balich said.

Board Member Mica Freeman (D-Plainfield) noted that despite six finance meetings, attendance and engagement were lacking, leading to the last-minute crisis. “We can do better,” Freeman said.

Speaker Joe VanDuyne (D-Wilmington) closed the meeting by criticizing the “narrow majority” that voted for a 0% levy in November without a plan to pay for it. “The narrow majority that approved the budget did half the job and then walked away,” VanDuyne said.