The LaSalle County Finance Committee met to review the draft fiscal-year budget, debating revenue estimates, interfund transfers and levy levels for multiple county funds, and voted to forward a recommended candidate for the county finance director position to the Legislation and Rules Committee for final consideration.

Committee chair Doug opened discussion by outlining the review plan and asking staff to walk members through revenues and then expenses. Finance staff member Stephanie provided the budget workbook and answered questions about revenue sources such as countywide sales tax, use tax, personal property replacement tax and interest income. Members discussed raising the countywide sales-tax revenue projection from the figure shown in the draft to $5,500,000; Stephanie identified the prior figure as $5,000,002.91 and confirmed the increase would be reflected in the next draft.

The committee debated several fund-specific changes. Members agreed to increase the probation cost-reimbursement estimate from $7.35 (million) to $8.35 (million) based on year-to-date receipts. They discussed circuit-clerk filing fees, noting historical declines linked to expanded fee waivers, and considered raising that line from $133,000 (current receipts) to a target between $165,000 and $200,000 before settling to leave it at $165,000 for now. The committee confirmed a DCFS reimbursement for an SRO officer at $206,000 (covering salary, fringe and vehicle allowance through June 2026) and a Unit 2 SRO reimbursement budgeted at $41,000 for the partial school-year reimbursement.

Members reviewed multiple transfers and cash balances. The public-safety fund — which committee members noted holds a multi‑million-dollar cash balance — will show a planned transfer of $3,500,000 to the general fund in the draft; members discussed the risk of depleting that fund if large recurring transfers continue. On iFiber sale proceeds, committee staff added a transfer of $2,500,000 from the iFiber proceeds fund to the general fund for the 2026 draft; committee members had earlier debated transferring $5,000,000 but the working draft used $2.5 million while noting future flexibility if projects or bond/insurance decisions require additional transfers.

The committee pressed department heads and staff to justify levies where funds hold large cash balances. County health department cash on hand was reported at roughly $4.0 million; several committee members asked the department to return with a spend-down plan and recommended reducing or eliminating the health-department levy until the department presented anticipated grant expirations or near-term obligations. Nursing-home payroll and agency-pay assumptions were also flagged for review: staff and members agreed to have the nursing-home director return with more detail before finalizing payroll and levy figures, and committee members suggested reducing the nursing-home payroll assumption to about $4.0–4.2 million depending on staffing plans.

Throughout the review, staff and committee members agreed to a process: staff will produce an updated budget book reflecting the committee's changes and send a new draft to members before the next meeting; several departments (nursing home, county health, VAC, and others) will be asked to return to discuss specific line items. Amanda and Stephanie were assigned to coordinate scheduling of department follow-ups for the next meeting.

On personnel matters, the committee moved and approved forwarding a recommended candidate for the county finance director position to the Legislation and Rules Committee. Mister Templeton moved to recommend “applicant A” to the Legislation and Rules Committee for approval; Mister Bailey seconded. Committee chair Doug called for the vote and members answered “Aye”; the motion carried. The committee also approved an earlier motion authorizing an executive session (moved by Mister Remmett, seconded by Missus Nikki) by roll call earlier in the meeting.

The committee scheduled continued review of expenses on the next meeting date and asked staff to circulate a corrected, signed budget book. Before adjourning, Mister Ahmed moved to adjourn; Mister Templeton seconded and the motion carried.

The decisions recorded at this meeting are direction to staff and elected heads to provide further documentation and revised figures rather than final appropriations. Committee members emphasized they will revisit several levies and transfers after elected officials or department heads return with clarifying documents and the updated budget book.