County Board to vote Oct. 22 on 19% rise in health insurance premium rates and data center tax-break ban
The agenda also lists an NDA ban ordinance, a District 1 appointment and a $339,600 courtroom renovation contract.
URBANA - The Champaign County Board will vote Oct. 22 on a 19% increase in health insurance premium rates for 2027 and on a resolution barring tax-break talks for hyperscale data centers, according to the agenda packet posted Friday.
Under the plan recommended by the county's labor-management health insurance committee, the monthly Blue Cross Blue Shield premium for employee-only coverage would rise from $1,504 to $1,789, and family coverage from $3,248 to $3,865. The packet says the plan and deductibles would stay the same.
The data center resolution, on the consent agenda, would prohibit the county from negotiating tax abatements or payment-in-lieu-of-taxes deals for hyperscale data centers. The board will also vote on an ordinance banning non-disclosure agreements and will discuss, without a vote, a non-binding referendum question on data centers.
Other items include appointing Michael J. Smith to District 1, replacing Jeff Wilson, according to the resolution, adding one deputy sheriff position (58 to 59 sworn), a $339,600 Courtroom F renovation contract with Petry-Kuhne, and receiving the FY2027 tentative budget, to be distributed later.
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Shields-Carter Meeting Room, Bennett Administrative Center, 102 E. Main St., Urbana.
Source: Champaign County Board agenda and full agenda packet, Oct. 22, 2026 (https://www.champaigncountyil.gov/CountyBoard/CB/2026/261022_Meeting/261022AgendaFull.pdf)