Tax cap could force layoffs, cuts in McHenry

Over budget and facing tax caps, McHenry County officials haveordered 15.9 percent budget cuts in all departments.

Sheriff Keith Nygren said Wednesday that if the proposedreductions stand, he will have to cut 66 employees, including sevenof eight female patrol officers.

Coroner Marlene Lantz said the cuts would be disastrous to heroffice. She left a budget meeting in tears on Monday."Because of the tax cap, we can't raise taxes unless we go to areferendum," said Dianne Klemm, chairman of the McHenry County Board."We are going to try to trim our services back instead. It will bepainful but necessary."The property tax cap limits how much local governments …