Proposed State Legislation Sparks Debate Over Will County Veterans Assistance Commission Budget Control

Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | April 7, 2026

Article Summary: State legislation aimed at granting county boards ultimate approval power over Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) budgets sparked debate among the Will County Board Legislative Committee regarding the balance of financial oversight and VAC independence.

VAC Legislation Key Points:

• House Bill 5085 and Senate Bill 3646 would require Veterans Assistance Commissions to publish their budgets and mandate that local county boards vote to approve them.

• Proponents of the legislation argue it provides necessary taxpayer guardrails against VACs unilaterally demanding maximum tax levies (up to 0.02% or 0.03%), a practice that has triggered lawsuits in other Illinois counties.

• Opponents, including Will County Board Member Julie Berkowicz, argue the bills unnecessarily infringe on the autonomy of the VAC and are widely opposed by local VFW and American Legion posts.

The Will County Board Legislative Committee on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, waded into a debate over state legislation that would fundamentally alter how Veterans Assistance Commissions (VAC) are funded, pitting calls for taxpayer accountability against concerns over bureaucratic overreach.

The committee reviewed House Bill 5085, sponsored by Representative Natalie Manley, and Senate Bill 3646. The legislation would require VACs to publish their budgets online and mandate that local county boards vote to formally approve those budgets. Under current Illinois law, VACs, which are governed by boards elected internally by veteran organizations, have the authority to levy a specific property tax percentage based on need without requiring approval from the county board that physically issues the funds.

Committee Member Julie Berkowicz voiced strong opposition to the bills, citing her ties to the Judd Kendall VFW Auxiliary.

“There is not one Legion, one VFW post auxiliary, or VAC that I’ve spoken to that likes this bill,” Berkowicz stated. “I would much rather see that the VAC’s board has the ability to pursue and correct a situation… rather than make them have to come to the county board and put that additional reporting burden on them.” She praised the Will County VAC as “one of the best in the state.”

However, other committee members pointed out that the legislation is a necessary safeguard designed to protect county budgets from arbitrary and massive tax levies. Under the current statute, a VAC could unilaterally demand a levy of 0.02%—and up to 0.03% under the proposed Senate bill—forcing the county to absorb millions in unbudgeted expenditures.

“There’s been a couple of lawsuits with counties because there is language right now that says with need, a VAC can levy up to 0.02% without any action by anyone, and the county board has to give them their money,” a committee member noted, citing a dramatic budget increase in Lake County. “It changes nothing except it clarifies that VAC, like every other board like the Mental Health Board or the Will County Health Department, still comes here to get the final approval.”

While the Will County VAC currently maintains a highly cooperative budgeting relationship with the county board, proponents of the legislation argued that leadership changes could expose taxpayers to sudden financial liabilities without elected oversight.

According to Mac Strategies, HB 5085 has been returned to the rules committee, but Rep. Manley intends to pursue a subject matter hearing later in the session. Meanwhile, SB 3646 has received an extension to April 24, keeping the debate alive in Springfield.