It's been a while!

My apologies for the long time between posts.  Since I last wrote, the County Board held its August regular meeting, and has begun its review of the Fiscal Year 2017 budget.

The August Board Packet and Accounts Payable are on the "Board Packets" page, and I also share the DRAFT minutes from the Board's August meeting here.

The original fiscal year 2017 budget in its entirety is available here.  As you can see, the original budget called for a deficit of $8.9 million.  The Finance Budget Committee met and requested that the office heads review and reconsider their budgets in light of that fact.  As of Friday afternoon, our County Finance Director, Craig Peters, has advised that the office heads have reviewed the request and the budget now shows a deficit of $5.7 million.  I am quite appreciative of their willingness to do so, and in such short order. Here is a breakdown Craig prepared to show the comparison:

If you wish to attend any Finance Budget Committee meetings to hear the latest on the budget, including everyone's efforts to consider additional options in light of the deficit, the next meetings are set for:

1) September 19 at 3:30pm;

2) September 20, immediately following the regular Finance Committee meeting.

Both of these meetings are to be held in the Carius Community Room in the County Justice Center.

In other county news:

1) An electronic recycling event is being hosted by Area Recycling and State Senator Dave Koehler from 9am - 1pm at Area Recycling, located at 14379 IL Route 29 South, Pekin. The event is free and open to the public.  If you have questions about the event (what is/is not accepted), please call 309.677.0120.

2) On August 26, 2016, Governor Rauner signed Public Act 99-900 into law.  Among other things, the law prohibits any County Board member elected or appointed after August 26 from participating in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (i.e., receiving a pension).  It also requires Board members in office before that time who still participate in IMRF to file a detailed record of their hours worked on a monthly basis.  The failure to do so will result in an immediate loss of IMRF participation.  You will recall our County Board voted to end its participation in IMRF several years ago for Board members.

This post contains a lot of information, so please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.