DeKalb County, Illinois

Frequently Asked Questions
County Clerk Finance Information Management Office
Joiner History Room Regional Office of Education Treasurer's Office

County Clerk

Check with the individual city the business will be located to see what they require.

 

Finance

  • Question...
What is the County’s fiscal year?
  • Answer...
Starting 1/1/2008, the fiscal year will start each January 1st and end each December 31st. Before FY2008 the fiscal year began December 1st and ended November 30th with the exception of FY2007 which extended to 13 months ending December 31, 2007. 
  • Question...
How many employees does the County hire?
  • Answer...
For Fiscal Year 2001, the County has authorized 454.25 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. The actual number of employees is higher, as many positions are part-time positions.
  • Question...
How many paychecks do you write every two weeks?
  • Answer...
Approximately 500 paychecks are issued bi-weekly.
  • Question...
Does the County receive all the property taxes an individual pays?
  • Answer...
The County receives only 10% - 12% of the property taxes you pay. The rest goes to other units of local government, such as schools, cities, parks, townships.
  • Question...
Does the County have a Personnel Office?
  • Answer...
No. Each office recruits and hires their own staff. The Finance Office maintains personnel records for the County, administers the payroll, and coordinates all employee benefit programs.

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Information Management Office

  • Q.    What is the primary responsibility of the Information Management Office?

  • A.    The Information Management Office's primary responsibility is to create and maintain an infrastructure that allows County departments and the citizens of DeKalb County to share digital information.  The two main focuses of IMO are 1)  network technologies to support to internal computer and training needs; and 2) DeKalb County Government's Geographic Information System (GIS) Program.

  • Q.    What is the DeKalb County Government GIS Program?

  • A.    GIS links graphic data (like maps and photographs) with information stored in a database (like street address, parcel number, etc.).  In the simplest of terms, a GIS is a computerized map with information or data linked to and accessible from the map.  The linkage enables users to "display" answers to questions or queries.  DeKalb County Government is developing an enterprise GIS that will improve access to spatial information.

  • Q.    What is GISWeb?

  • A.    The Information Management Office has developed this web-based application that provides the ability to view and query various maps and data.  For additional information please refer to the GISWeb FAQ's.

  • Q.    Should I call IMO at 815-895-1643 if I need information on a County issue?

  • A.    Because of our department's name, we are often thought to be a directory type "information center".  Citizens who aren't sure where to find specific information - or are not sure who to call - often call IMO.  Although that is not our specific function, we are certainly happy to do our best to transfer callers to the appropriate office or to forward e-mail questions to the appropriate office.  We work for you, the citizens of DeKalb County and we'll do our best to help!

  • Q.     I can't find the information I had hoped to find on your website.  To whom do I send my ideas for additions?

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Joiner History Room

Q:  What does Kishwaukee mean? 
  •  Kish and Pot means "is swift like an arrow" while waukee means "is water."

Q:  Do you have Birth/Death/Marriage Records?

  • No.  The County Clerk has that information
Q:  Can you help us find an ancestor?
  • Yes, we have family files, cemetery, newspaper, obituaries, and census to look through.

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Regional Office of Education

  • Question...1.         How do I register my Illinois Teaching Certificate in DeKalb County? 

Answer... If you possess a Standard Illinois Teaching Certificate and it is due to be registered, you may come to our office with your certificate and register it for a fee of $25.00, which registers it for five years.  You must fill out a registration form.  If you do not wish to come in, please contact our office and we will send you a registration form.  Then fill out the registration form and send it to us with your certificate and the required fee.  (We will soon have this form available on-line.) 

If you possess a Substitute Illinois Teaching Certificate, you must register it for the life of your certificate (one to four years) at a fee of $5.00 per year.  You will also need to fill out the registration form.  You may either come to our office or register by mail as explained above. 

  • Question...2.        What are the qualifications to become a substitute teacher? 

Answer... You must possess a valid Illinois teaching certificate.  If you do not, you must have earned a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized college or university.   

  • Question...3.        I do not possess an Illinois Teaching Certificate but I have a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized college or university.  How do I become a substitute teacher in DeKalb County?   

Answer...You will need to fill out an Application for Teaching Certificate (form ISBE 73-03).  You may obtain it from the DeKalb County ROE.  The cost for the Illinois Substitute Teaching Certificate is a total of $50.00.  The $50.00 includes an application fee of $30.00 and a registration fee of $20.00, which will register your certificate for four years.  By state law, you must apply to be a substitute in person, because of the required I-9 form.  Following is a list of items that you must bring with you:
-          Official Transcripts showing the Bachelor’s Degree
-          Proof of a TB test done within the past 365 days
-          Two specific forms of identification:  valid drivers license and social security number card or birth certificate.  A U. S. passport is also acceptable.
You must fill out these forms:
-          State Police criminal background check permission form
-          DCFS mandated reporter form
-          Teacher Retirement System forms
-          Federal I-9 Form
You must also watch a safety video on blood borne pathogens and take a 20-question true-false quiz.  Finally, a cover sheet allows you to select the school districts in which you wish to substitute.  The whole process takes about 45 minutes.  You do not need an appointment.  Please note that our office hours are 8:30 A.M. to noon and 1:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.  (We will soon have these forms available on-line.)   

  • Question...4.        I have a valid Standard Illinois teaching certificate.  How do I register to become a substitute teacher in DeKalb County? 

Answer...  You must register your Illinois teaching certificate in the DeKalb County Regional Office of Education (ROE) either in person or by mail.  The cost of registering the teaching certificate is $5.00 per year and must be registered in five-year increments.  After your certificate is registered, please follow the steps found in answer #3.   

  • Question...5.        How many public school districts are there in DeKalb County?   

Answer... There are eight public school districts in DeKalb County.   Below are listed the school district central office phone numbers:
                Genoa-Kingston CUSD #424 @ (815) 784-6222
                Indian Creek CUSD #425 (Shabbona and Waterman) @ (815) 824-2197
                Hiawatha CUSD #426 (Kirkland) @ (815) 522-6676
                Sycamore CUSD #427 @ (815) 899-8103
                DeKalb CUSD #428 (Cortland, DeKalb and Malta) @ (815) 754-2350
                Hinckley-Big Rock CUSD #429 @ (815) 286-7575
                Sandwich CUSD #430 @ (815) 786-6229
                Somonauk CUSD #432 @ (815) 498-2315   

  • Question...6.        How many private schools are there in DeKalb County? 

Answer... There are five private schools in DeKalb County.  Below are listed the main office phone numbers:
                Cornerstone Christian Academy (Sycamore) @ (815) 895-8522
                Montessori School of DeKalb @ (815) 758-6822
                St. Mary Elementary (DeKalb) @ (815) 756-7905
                St. Mary Elementary (Sycamore) @ (815) 895-5215
                Somonauk Baptist School (Somonauk) @(815) 498-2312   

  • Question...7.        What is the Kishwaukee Intermediate Delivery System (KIDS)?   

Answer... KIDS is a consortium of three Regional Offices of Education (ROE)—Boone-Winnebago ROE, DeKalb ROE and McHenry ROE.  The KIDS consortium provides staff development to educators and administrators in the four county area.  The web site of KIDS (which also includes a section on the DeKalb ROE) is: http://www.kidsroe.org   

  • Question...8.        For statewide educational information, what is the web site of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)?   

Answer...The web site of the ISBE is: http://www.isbe.state.il.us   

  • Question...9.        For special education information in DeKalb County, what is the web site of the DeKalb County Special Education Association (DCSEA)?   

Answer...  The web side of DCSEA is: http://www.dcsea.org

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Treasurer

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