County Authorizes Financial Study of Homer Glen Law Enforcement Contract

Finance Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026

Article Summary: The Finance Committee voted to authorize a professional study to evaluate the true cost of providing law enforcement services to the Village of Homer Glen. Officials expressed concern that the 18-year-old contract may no longer cover the full economic impact of the services provided by the Sheriff’s Office.

Homer Glen Study Key Points:

• Contract History: The current intergovernmental agreement dates back to 2001 and was last renewed in 2007.

• Study Cost: The county will pay up to $75,000 for a specialized financial and operational analysis.

• Current Revenue: The Sheriff’s Office currently receives approximately $5 million annually from Homer Glen for these services.

• Goal: To determine if the current reimbursement rates accurately reflect overhead, direct labor, and indirect costs associated with the contract.

Will County is taking steps to ensure it isn’t shortchanging taxpayers when it comes to policing the Village of Homer Glen. On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the Finance Committee approved a resolution to hire a consultant to analyze the cost of law enforcement services provided to the village.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office acts as the police department for Homer Glen, a unique arrangement in the county. While the village pays roughly $5 million a year for this service, the underlying contract has not been substantially renegotiated since 2007.

“It is in the best interest of the county to explore the full economic value of those law enforcement services,” said Kevin “Duffy” Blackburn from the Auditor’s Office. He explained that the study would look at “total absorption cost,” including overhead, direct and indirect costs, and liability.

Committee Member Jackie Traynere (District 11) voiced support for the study, noting the age of the agreement. “Seems like 18 years was kind of a long time to wait,” Traynere said. “I’m thinking we ought to do this every at least every 10 years, maybe more often.”

Board Member Dan Butler (District 3) questioned the necessity of the study, asking what information was currently missing. “If you allocate a few more people to do something into a territory, you know what that fixed cost is going to be,” Butler said.

Blackburn clarified that calculating the true cost is complex, involving factors like shift relief, dispatch time, and administrative overhead from other county departments like IT and purchasing. “If we are not judging it correctly… is there another reason we could come back and say there’s a contract that we could do?” Blackburn posited.

Member Julie Berkowicz (District 10) emphasized the need to include costs for equipment and liability for individuals in custody. “If we bring somebody in our custody and they need care… who absorbs that cost?” she asked.

The resolution authorizes the County Auditor to enter into a contract not to exceed $75,000. Blackburn noted that while similar studies can cost upwards of $300,000, the county has identified a vendor with specific law enforcement experience who can do it for much less. The motion passed unanimously.