As Peoria County Administrator, Lori S. Curtis Luther is responsible for the day-to-day management of Peoria County, with supervisory authority over 11 departments. Responsible for developing its $136 million annual budget, she ensures department compliance with spending parameters and all county policies.
Since joining Peoria County last August, Luther has brought new energy and fresh ideas to the community while proving more than capable of making difficult management decisions and leading the organization through challenging budget cycles. In her short tenure, she has presented two balanced budgets and tripled the County’s Economic Development team, working closely with them and other regional partners to develop creative incentive packages and craft proposals to attract large manufacturing plants to the county.
Luther also played a significant role in bringing the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to central Illinois. Understanding the urgent need for revitalization in the south end of Peoria and other older neighborhoods within the city, she has been involved in this initiative since its inception. After LISC decided to open an office in Peoria, her involvement expanded, and she now serves on its board of directors. She is also a contributor to the Heart of Illinois United Way PACESETTER Campaign and a dedicated supporter of many other United Way projects. She is a member of the International City/County Manager’s Association, Illinois City/County Management Association, National Association of County Administrators and Illinois Association of County Administrators.
In August, Luther was selected to participate in the inaugural Edgar Fellows Program, an intense leadership training initiative sponsored by the University of Illinois’ Institute of Government and Public Affairs, where she developed relationships with other leaders statewide and came away with many new ideas to consider. She has also spent time meeting with local students to raise awareness of career opportunities in public service. Prior to moving to Peoria, Luther was active in her community in Wisconsin, serving on the boards of a number of community organizations and educational institutions. iBi
