Chambana Sun

Champaign County Board Finance Committee of the Whole met Oct. 1.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present: Brad Clemmons, Lorraine Cowart, Connie Dillard-Myers, Jodi Eisenmann, Aaron Esry, Cynthia Fears, Stephanie Fortado, Jim Goss, Stan Harper, Mike Ingram, Jim McGuire, Diane Michaels, Kyle Patterson, Chris Stohr, Steve Summers, Leah Taylor, Eric Thorsland, James Tinsley, Jodi Wolken, Charles Young, Giraldo Rosales

Members Absent: Jon Rector

Others Present: Darlene Kloeppel (County Executive), Tami Ogden (Deputy Director of Finance), Isak Griffiths (Deputy Director of Administration), Megan Robison (Recording Secretary), Dustin Heuerman (Sheriff), Lisa Benson (RPC-Community Services Director)

I. Call to Order

Chair Goss called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

II. Roll Call

A verbal roll call was taken, and a quorum was declared present.

III. Approval of Agenda/Addenda

MOTION by Ms. Fortado to approve the agenda; seconded by Mr. Esry. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

Mr. McGuire and Ms. Cowart entered just after approval of the agenda.

IV. Public Comment on the Proposed FY2021 Budget

None

V. Communications

None

VI. Discussion and Decisions Regarding FY2021 Budget

Ms. Fortado spoke about the recommendations from the County Executive and what the order of the body was going to be at this meeting. Ms. Kloeppel and Ms. Ogden stated they need specific direction on how to proceed with the budget to get it placed on file.

Mr. Stohr asked for elaboration about the cannabis sales funds. Ms. Kloeppel explained there currently is not an allocation for those funds but explained her recommendation to use them for a justice system diversion initiative. Ms. Ogden explained the current budget reflects a surplus of $12,000 and any changes the Board wishes to make will reflect a revenue to expenditure deficit in 2021 but a surplus is expected in 2020.

Ms. Michaels raised concerns about needing more budget cuts in 2021 due to not receiving a state reimbursement from COVID that helped with expenses in 2020. Ms. Kloeppel explained that future cuts may need to be made in 2022 if revenues are not as expected in 2021.

Discussion continued regarding the outstanding items the County Executive listed in her budget memo. Ms. Fortado expressed that she was in favor of taking $22,000 from the Public Safety Sales Tax fund to maintain the Youth Assessment Center at its current level of funding. There wasn’t any objection to the change.

Chair Goss brought forward the next item, transferring $75,000 from the County Board’s personnel line to use it for continued ERP project management. Several members expressed their desire to update the antiquated system updated for the ease of staff members. Mr. Tinsley recommended that $25,000 be taken from the remaining $55,000 to pilot the justice system diversion initiatives. Mr. Stohr mentioned he would like to see a social worker working in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Office. Ms. Michaels stated that it would be better to focus on the software first and then revisit this idea. A couple members spoke against this idea.

Mr. Patterson brought forward the idea to invest cannabis funds into services, specifically justice system diversion initiatives, instead of the funds in the County Board’s personnel line. After speaking with the Sheriff and RPC they identified two programs that would be affordable; a social worker to accompany the Sheriff’s Office on crisis/domestic calls and moral reconation therapy to be provided at the Youth Assessment Center.

Sheriff Heuerman and Ms. Benson were invited to join the conversation. Ms. Benson gave a quick overview of the proposal. Sheriff Heuerman discussed how this would be implemented and helpful within the county. Ms. Dillard-Myers stated that we would need more money than we have available to fully address this problem.

Ms. Fortado said the County cannot solve all problems but could address them. She also explained how the

Democratic Caucus has discussed putting some of the cannabis revenue towards social justice programs. Chair

Goss suggested also asking the Mental Health Board for assistance to fund these initiatives.

After a straw poll of 8-12, it was determined that they would not recommend taking $25,000 from the County

Board personnel line to be used for the Justice Initiative. Ms. Ogden asked if they would like to keep the entire $55,000 in a personnel line or move it to another line. Ms. Fortado suggested moving $30,000 from the personnel line to the services line and keeping $25,000 in the personnel line. None of the Board members had any objections to this proposal.

Ms. Fortado recommended using $125,000 of the cannabis revenues to fund the two justice initiatives that have been discussed. After a unanimous straw poll, the Board is recommending this proposal.

Chair Goss moved on to the last outstanding item, using the $400,000 gift from the Richmond Trust to restore most of the capital funding for facilities projects. The Board members did not bring forward any objections to this proposal. Ms. Ogden and Ms. Kloeppel were satisfied with the direction that was given.

VII. Other Business

None

VIII. Adjournment

Chair Goss adjourned the meeting at 7:49 p.m.

http://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/Committee_Of_The_Whole/2020/201001_Special_Finance_Meeting/201001Minutes.pdf