County Board Authorizes Audit of Homer Glen Policing Contract; Officials Seek ‘True Cost’ of Services

Will County Board Meeting | February 19, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County Board unanimously approved a $75,000 contract to audit the cost of law enforcement services provided to the Village of Homer Glen. County officials stated the study is necessary to update cost models that haven’t been renegotiated since 2007.

Homer Glen Audit Key Points:

• Cost of Study: $75,000 from County Board Contingency funds.

• Current Contract Value: The Village of Homer Glen currently pays approximately $5.1 million annually for Sheriff’s Office services.

• Purpose: To create a “methodologically defensible” cost analysis to ensure taxpayers aren’t subsidizing the village, or vice versa, ahead of potential contract renegotiations.

• Vote: Passed 19-0.

The Will County Board on Thursday, February 19, 2026, voted unanimously to authorize the County Auditor to hire a professional consultant to analyze the financial and operational costs of providing law enforcement services to the Village of Homer Glen.

The resolution allows the Auditor’s Office to spend up to $75,000 to retain a firm with subject matter expertise in public safety costs.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office has provided policing services to Homer Glen since the village incorporated in 2001. According to County Auditor Duffy Blackburn, the financial terms of that agreement were last renegotiated in 2007. While the specific dollar amount billed to the village fluctuates annually based on a cost matrix—currently standing at approximately $5.1 million—the underlying formula has not been updated in nearly 20 years.

“Things change in 19 years,” Blackburn told the board. “For us to go from just what our office is doing to have a methodologically defensible study… I would move from just our compliance to seeking someone who has subject matter expertise.”

Blackburn noted that his office frequently fields questions from constituents in other municipalities who ask, “I pay for my police department, why am I paying for Homer Glen’s?”

The goal of the study is to determine if the county is fully capturing all direct and indirect costs associated with the 20 full-time assigned officers, including pension liabilities, vehicle maintenance, and administrative overhead.

Board Member Steve Balich (R-Homer Glen) supported the measure, arguing that it protects both the county and the village. He noted that by state law, the Sheriff’s Office cannot make a profit on the contract, but must break even.

“If we’re overcharging them [it’s a problem], and if we’re not overcharging them, we’re hurting the county,” Balich said. “So we need to have the idea figure.”

Member Daniel Butler (R-Frankfort) questioned the timing, asking if the Sheriff’s Office was currently losing money. “What don’t we know that we have to hire and pay someone $75,000 to find out?” Butler asked.

Deputy Auditor Kathy Pleasant explained that while costs like new squad cars are factored in annually, the allocation percentages for administrative overhead and other indirect costs may no longer reflect reality.

“What we don’t know is if the allocation methods that we’re using… is actually good based on subject matter expertise,” Pleasant said. “Is it all-inclusive? Was it run like a business?”

Blackburn assured the board that the process would be transparent and would likely include interviews with Homer Glen officials.

“I just want to make sure that at the end of the day that everybody here in this room is comfortable with the decision that we make,” Board Member Kelly Hickey (D-Naperville) said. “Because we’re representing the citizens throughout the whole county.”

The measure passed 19-0.