Voters elected Karen McConnaughay Board Chairman in 2004 and she has worked every day since to protect the quality of life in Kane County despite rapid population growth. From strengthening emergency response and improving our transportation network to balancing the budget without raising property taxes, Kane County has enjoyed great success and security at a time when other local governments have struggled to make ends meet.
Now she wants to build on those accomplishments by continuing the core principles that have made Kane County government strong. Specifically, the McConnaughay vision for effective county government is rooted in the following ideals:
- DELIVER GREATER EFFICIENCY
- FUEL ECONOMIC GROWTH
- STRENGTHEN PUBLIC SAFETY
- ADDRESS TODAY’S CHALLENGES
- PLAN FOR TOMORROW
DELIVER GREATER EFFICIENCY
and protect taxpayer dollars
Rapid population growth means a greater demand for services, and Karen McConnaughay has led Kane County in answering that call without raising property taxes. Under McConnaughay’s leadership, residents pay just 5-cents of each property tax dollar to County government – down from a previous rate of 7-cents per dollar. At the same time, she has led the County Board in balancing its budget, limiting debt and maintaining responsible reserves.
That success did not occur by accident-it is the direct result of leadership that continually looks to make government more efficient and further stretch tax dollars. Just as county families have had to tighten their belts in a declining economy, McConnaughay called on all county departments to reduce their budgets by 1.5 percent without sacrificing services, and imposed a hiring freeze. She also announced that she would not accept a scheduled pay raise if re-elected, and asked all county elected leaders and senior management to do the same.
McConnaughay aims to build on that success in another term, and ensure that Kane County residents receive the highest level of service and efficiency for their tax dollars.
FUEL ECONOMIC GROWTH
and ensure good jobs
Kane County is a great place to work and build a business, and Karen McConnaughay has made it a priority to create an environment to fuel that prosperity. Specifically, McConnaughay has prioritized transportation investment because she knows that our local economy depends on roads, bridges, rail and public transit to relieve congestion and move people from place-to-place.
Under McConnaughay’s leadership, the County has aggressively improved and expanded county roads and intersections despite having fewer dollars from the state of Illinois. She has led Kane County in advancing long-overdue Fox River bridge crossings, and secured the return of more than $80 million federal tax dollars for the construction of the regional Stearns Road Bridge corridor, the Long Meadow Parkway and METRA Train Station expansion.
McConnaughay will continue this proactive approach to economic growth in her next term as Chairman, ensuring that employers continue to locate and bring good jobs to Kane County.
STRENGTHEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
and provide secure communities
Nothing matters more to Kane County families than the safety of their communities – and Karen McConnaughay shares that priority. In the less than four years as Board Chairman, she led Kane County in implementing the Code Red emergency notification system, streamlined the law enforcement and courts record system, and brought emergency response leaders together to ensure that their communication systems can interact in times of crisis.
Most recently, McConnaughay guided Kane County in construction of a new Kane County Adult Justice Center & Sheriff’s Office. Located next to the Courthouse, the complex addresses long-standing overcrowding issues and creates a central criminal justice campus, improving efficiencies and eliminating the daily transport of prisoners across the county for Court appearances. Dedicated in August, the Jail and Sheriff’s Office project was completed on-time and under budget.
McConnaughay looks to further increase collaboration among law enforcement, the courts and county in another term, and further strengthen a Justice System that is already more effective and efficient than at any time in our history.
ADDRESS TODAY’S CHALLENGES
and meet community needs
Government is not the answer to all problems but it does have an important role in addressing the needs of our communities and the challenges of our residents. Karen McConnaughay has worked to ensure that Kane County Government reflects the citizens it serves and responds swiftly when the public interest is at stake.
Recognizing the struggle facing residents who face chronic flooding, McConnaughay secured financial grant dollars to promote flood control and protect homes in Aurora, North Aurora, Batavia, St. Charles, Huntley, Hampshire, Burlington, Big Rock, Maple Park, Elburn, Sugar Grove and Elgin – to name a few. With an increasing number of residents only using cell phones, McConnaughay this summer teamed with area municipalities and school districts to encourage residents to submit their mobile numbers to the county and ensure they are contacted in case of emergency by the Code Red notification system. And with Kane County residents seeing the fastest growing rate of home foreclosure in Chicagoland, McConnaughay launched “Help for Homeowners,” a public information campaign aimed at assisting residents during difficult economic times.
McConnaughay will keep the focus of local government on Kane County residents and communities in a second term, and continue to bring people and agencies together to address the challenges we face.
PLAN FOR TOMORROW
and invest in Kane County’s future
Kane is among the fastest growing counties in the nation – making it more important than ever for local leaders to look to the future and take steps today to protect our quality of life tomorrow. From creating a Kane County Strategic Plan to examining how best to ensure a safe and reliable water supply as our population grows, Karen McConnaughay understands that government must do more than respond to challenges – it must anticipate them as well.
Specifically, McConnaughay brought together a cross-section of leaders from throughout the county to create a roadmap for the future of Kane County and a five-year strategy for capital improvements. Working closely with county staff and elected leaders, she has made the necessary investment in our communities – from construction of the new Kane County Adult Justice Center & Sheriff’s Office to expansion of the county transportation network. And she already is looking ahead and taking the necessary steps to ensure a safe and reliable water supply in Kane County regardless of our population growth.
As one who regularly reminds colleagues that “we only have one chance to get this right,” McConnaughay will keep her eye to the future in a second term, and ensure Kane County does what is necessary for the next generation.