State Budget Threatens County Services
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ "This is going to be devastating if this budget isn't improved upon," County Clerk Kevin Kern stated at Thursday's Perry County Commissioners meeting.
The budget Kern was referring to was the Illinois state budget, which is currently set to cut funding across the state by fifty percent.
Illinois counties receive state funding to help pay the salaries of elected officials, state's attorney, public attorney and election judges as well as help pay stipends to the circuit clerk and assistant state's attorney. Without the state's aid the county would have to pick up the slack.
This is in addition to many other local services being cut from state funding such as the Child Advocacy Center.
Kern said that leaves the county with two choices, or a hybrid of the two: end all services provided that are paid in this way or raise the money locally, most likely through the most adjustable tax, property taxes.
Kern was confident in saying that the amount the county could loose if the budget isn't improved upon is between $250,000 and $500,000. Kern intends to look more into the problem, prepare a resolution and contact the legislators in charge of the budget.
Other items address on the agenda...
Passed an ordinance determining the annual prevailing wage rates, received from the Department of Labor, for public works construction.
Passed three resolutions to ratify contract agreements for emergency dispatching services with the villages of Cutler, St. Johns and Willisville. Chairman Kelly was authorized to execute contract agreements with the city of Pinckneyville and the village of Tamaroa when they are received.
Authorized Chairman Bobby Kelly to sign a revised county health insurance plan at the end of the month. Insurance advisors from Schnideker Risk Management said it would be best to wait until current claims are processed with BAC before looking for a new plan.
Approved a federal aid agreement in the amount of $900,000 for New Church Road improvements, which runs from Rt. 154 to Rt. 13. Improvements intend to be finished before the year is over.
Acknowledged the acceptance of motor fuel tax audits for the County Highway, Unit Road District and Joint Bridge Funds from IDOT.
Authorized Chairman Kelly to execute an IEPA Solid Waste Management grant award in the amount of $36,168.
Discussed and reviewed the possible changes to the Open Burning Ordinance, such as a limit on the number of acres that could be burned. The ordinance will be discussed again at the next meeting.
Tabled the Chairman's appointment of members to the Southwestern Illinois Tourism Bureau. Pinckneyville recently joined the Bureau and must have a representative to the Bureau, something only the county can do. The county is not part of the Southwestern Illinois Tourism Bureau.
Passed a resolution ratifying the Chairman's appointment of Larry Galbraith to the Tamaroa Community Fire Protection District.
Approved of a liquor license application for Double Eagle, Inc., though a discussion arose from the price of the license. Licenses used to cost $500, but when the ordinance was reviewed in 2003/04 it was thought to be out of date and it was decided to update the ordinance when the ordinance book was finished. The book was recently finished and the ordinance was changed when it was published, changing the cost to $1,000.
Approved of a raffle license for the Dwight Eisenhower Memorial Fund.