Peoria County Auditor Jessica Thomas

Jessica Thomas' long battle to remain Peoria County auditor after voters overwhelmingly voted to eliminate her office is over.

Legal counsel for embattled Peoria County Auditor Jessica Thomas was back in court Tuesday after an Illinois Appellate Court ruling finding against her in June.

The decision on Thursday comes after voters overwhelmingly chose to eliminate the office in a November referendum.

Peoria County Auditor Jessica Thomas' lawsuit against the Peoria County Election Commission challenging the 2022 referendum that led to the elimination of her office was dismissed without prejudice on Wednesday.

An Illinois appellate court is upholding a Peoria County judge's decision not to block the auditor referendum on the November ballot.

Judge James Mack denied a motion by the county on Thursday seeking to place Thomas' salary into an escrow account, pending their appeal of a preliminary injunction requiring the county government to continue paying her.

The Peoria County Auditor's Office will remain funded by taxpayers, for now.

A Peoria County judge is set to decide later this month whether the county must continue funding the auditor's office past Nov. 30.

Peoria County Auditor Jessica Thomas says she's not giving up the fight to save her position after voters approved eliminating it on Tuesday.

It appears Democrats will retain control of the Peoria County Board, albeit with a slightly smaller margin.