🌱 How will Sycamore’s new $25.39M budget affect city services?

Hi Sycamore! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How will Sycamore’s new $25.39M budget affect city services?
• What new Sycamore contracts are transparency advocates trying to uncover?

Also on today's calendar: A Collector's Dream Auction - General Antiques - ONLINE ONLY and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Find a T-Mobile store near Sycamore.

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Cloudy and very cold, with a high of 23 and low of 14 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Very cold with flurries, temps: high: 23, low: -1.
• Saturday: Frigid with snow and flurries, with a high of 3 and low of -10 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Sycamore's $25.39M city budget includes funding increases for staff, contracts (shawlocal.com) — Sycamore’s City Council has unanimously approved a $25.39 million fiscal 2026 budget that boosts spending on personnel, contracts, and supplies while keeping the property tax rate flat. The plan shifts less money to capital projects than last year, details major increases for police and other departments, and reflects ongoing costs tied to the new Fire Station 1 on South Prairie Drive.
   

• FOIA request sent to City of Sycamore regarding new or amended contracts on December 9, 2025 (dekalbtimes.com) — A media-affiliated nonprofit has filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking copies of all new or amended City of Sycamore contracts from early 2025, including public works, technology, and professional services agreements. The requester, working with the Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, aims to increase transparency around how Sycamore spends public money and has asked the city to provide electronic records and waive fees.
   

📸 Around Sycamore

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Sycamore

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday December 11

• A Collector's Dream Auction - General Antiques - ONLINE ONLY
  Donley Auctions, 8512 S Union Rd, Union
  9:00 am

Saturday December 13

• Guns! Accessories! and Ammo! Auction!
  Donley Auctions, 8512 S Union Rd, Union
  10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday December 12

• A Wonderful Life - Fireside Theatre, Fort Atkinson, WI
  DeKalb County Farm Bureau , 1350 W Prairie Dr , Sycamore
• ROE 16 Technology Roundtable
  DeKalb County Regional Office of Education , 2500 N Annie Glidden Rd Suite C , DeKalb
  12:30 pm
• Cookies with Santa
  Sycamore Park District , 480 Airport Rd , Sycamore
  4:00 pm
• The 38th Annual DeKalb High School Madrigal Dinners - Friday Evening
  Altgeld Hall , 116 altgeld hall , DeKalb
  6:30 pm
• Jim Brickman
  Egyptian Theatre , 135 N 2nd St , DeKalb
  7:30 pm

Saturday December 13

• Self-Defense Seminar
  Sycamore Park District Community Center , 480 Airport Rd , Sycamore
  1:00 pm
• The 38th Annual DeKalb High School Madrigal Dinners - Saturday Evening
  Altgeld Hall , 116 altgeld hall , DeKalb
  6:30 pm
• D E A D Z O N E: LIVE AT FARGO VENUE
  Fargo Skateboarding , 641 E Lincoln Hwy , DeKalb
  7:00 pm

📣 Sycamore Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 11

• Willrett Flower Co (Dekalb, IL) Hosting Silhouettes by Chris
  Willrett Flower Company , 230 E Lincoln Hwy Ste 150 , DeKalb
  1:00 pm
• HHS Holiday Concert
  Hampshire High School , 1600 Big Timber Road , Hampshire
  7:00 pm
• GKHS/GKMS Choir Concert
  Genoa-Kingston High School & CUSD 424 , 980 Park Ave , Genoa
  7:00 pm

Friday December 12

• A Wonderful Life - Fireside Theatre, Fort Atkinson, WI
  DeKalb County Farm Bureau , 1350 W Prairie Dr , Sycamore

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Is there a house in sycamore featuring a bluey light show?
  I just saw it on wgn, but they didn't give the address. Thx (Nextdoor Sycamore)
• To anybody who’s out there driving, how are the roads?
  I have to commute down 64 at about 10 o’clock. (Nextdoor Arrowhead Acres)

• Illinois Association Of School posted a job opening for 7th Grade .8 ELA/.2 Social Studies Teacher in Sycamore. Apply here.
• O'Reilly Auto Parts posted a job opening for Retail Service Specialist in Sycamore. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Sycamore here.

🗞 Nearby News

DeKalb

• City of Dekalb City Council met Nov. 10 (dekalbtimes.com)
• DeKalb District 428 to vote on property tax that could increase bills despite flat rate (shawlocal.com)
• DeKalb Council Approves Project Vector Data Center Proposal (1023thecoyote.net)

Hampshire

• Boys basketball: Hampshire rallies late but can't catch McHenry (dailyherald.com)

Geneva

Ok Sycamore! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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