County finances under review

The impact of the State of Illinois' financial crisis continues to hit close to home.

Finances topped discussion at a continued meeting of the Union County Board of Commissioners held early this week. County officeholders joined the commissioners at the meeting.

The meeting was Monday afternoon at the Union County Courthouse, and will continue again at 3 p.m. Thursday, today.

After discussing possible options to boost revenue in the county's general fund, the focus at Monday afternoon's session turned to looking at cuts.

Union County Treasurer Bobby G. Myers presented some bleak numbers to the commissioners Monday.

The information compiled by the treasurer showed that the State of Illinois owes the county more than $300,000.

The money includes $216,256.90 in income tax money which has not been disbursed by the state to the county.

The state also owes reimbursements to the county for the salaries of Union County State's Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds and Union County Assessor Angela Adams.

The state is nine months behind on salary reimbursement for the state's attorney. The county is owed $87,720.75.

For the assessor, the reimbursement is five months behind. The county is owed $9,166.65.

Myers explained that the Illinois Department of Revenue collects income tax money.

The department sends a voucher to the state comptroller's office, which then issues a check to disburse the county. Disbursements are supposed to occur on a monthly basis. That has not happened for months.

The comptroller's office is saying that money is not available to disburse.

"That's what caused our shortfall," Myers said.

State income tax money accounts for a big portion of Union County's general fund revenues, Myers said. Last fiscal year, the amount was budgeted for $770,473. For this fiscal year, the number is about $850,000.

Myers said the county's current financial challenges indeed are tied to the state's budget crisis. The matter might not be resolved until after the November general election in Illinois.

The treasurer noted that the current situation is not a new one. In the past, the state has fallen behind on payments to the county, which created budget problems.

Discussion about the county's financial status at Monday afternoon's county board meeting reflected the overall gloomy outlook in Illinois.

Board of commissioners chairman Randy Lambdin invited all county officeholders to attend Monday's meeting. Lambdin made it clear that action is needed to resolve the challenges facing the county. "We're going to have to do something," he said. "I'm asking for direction."

Lambdin said he thought it would be "extremely dangerous" for the county to continue forward with the budget as it stands while waiting for the state to come through with funding it owes the county.

"It's a bad situation, but it's got to be addressed," Lambdin said.

County officials discussed a variety of options as they looked at ways to pay bills and meet  a March 30 payroll.

The county is continuing to work on plans to collect overdue fines and court costs. Increases in fees were discussed, as was undertaking a cost analysis of county operations.

The commissioners began discussions with individual officeholders Monday afternoon to review possible ways to cut expenses.

Lambdin said the county may be looking at cutting $200,000 in expenses from the general fund budget.

Those attending the meeting agreed that all of the officeholders were going to have to work together to meet the challenge.

"I think it's going to take everybody working together," Union County Circuit Clerk Lorraine Moreland said.

The first round of talks involved animal control, the circuit clerk's office, the sheriff's office and the state's attorney's office.

Thursday, today, the budgets in the treasurer's, county clerk's and assessor's offices will be discussed.