County board approves tentative budget

<p class="p1">The Union County Board of Commissioners has adopted a tentative budget for a new fiscal year which begins on Dec. 1. The county's  new fiscal year will continue through Nov. 30, 2016.</p><p class="p1">The tentative budget was approved at a regular meeting of the county board which was held last Friday morning. The meeting was at the Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro.</p><p class="p1">Approval of the tentative budget came after the board had met 14 or 15 times in recent weeks to draft the document.</p><p class="p1">The work to draft a FY 2015-2016 budget came in the midst of many uncertainties surrounding the state's budget impasse. </p><p class="p1">The state's new fiscal year began on July 1. The state legislature, which is controlled by the Democratic Party, and Gov. Bruce Rauner, a Republican, have been unable to reach an agreement on a new budget.</p><p class="p1">Union County receives funding from multiple state sources based on tax collections. For the most part, the county has not received any state funding since July 1.</p><p class="p1">The state's budget situation could lead to dire consequences for the operation of the Union County Highway Department. </p><p class="p1">During discussion at Friday's board meeting, there was talk that the highway department could actually shut down early next year, right in the middle of winter, when storms could leave local roads covered with snow and ice.</p><p class="p1">In light of the uncertainty surrounding the state budget situation, the county board took the unusual step of approving a tentative budget which covers only six months, instead of a full year.</p><p class="p1">Revenues and expenses in the county's general fund were set at $2,206,069. Daily operating costs for most county offices are part of the general fund. The highway department is a separate entity in budget considerations. </p><p class="p1">A statement which appears on page 1 on the tentative budget document details the county's operating budget policies, along with information about the process behind the development of the budget and goals for the budget. The document is 100 pages long.</p><p class="p1">Details about operating budget policies, the budget development process and budget goals follow, as they appear in the document which was approved by the county board last Friday:</p><p class="p1"><strong>Operating Budget Policies</strong></p><p class="p1">In preparing the County's 2016 budget, all of the County Commissioners made the decision early on to work together to find the best possible path for all so that the services to our Union County residents would remain as consistent as possible during these uncertain times. </p><p class="p1">At this time, we are all in agreement that as a Board of Commissioners, we cannot envision what our revenue sources and resulting financial condition will be beyond the six months ending May 31, 2016. </p><p class="p1">Therefore, the Board of Commissioners is presenting an annual budget and six month appropriations ordinance for the first six months of our 2016 fiscal year ending November 30, 2016.</p><p class="p1">We would like to thank our officeholders in advance for their understanding of and compliance with the 2016 budget and six month of appropriations. </p><p class="p1">At this time, we will not be in a position to fund any capital improvements or budget beyond the basic necessities for each office. </p><p class="p1">Our focus started and remained on keeping the services to our County residents as consistent as possible.</p><p class="p1">The board acknowledges that other cost saving measures may need to be implemented during the fiscal year ending November 30, 2016.</p><p class="p1">The County is restricted under the statutory limitations ofthe property tax extension limitation law (PTELL). </p><p class="p1">PTELL is commonly referred to as "tax caps." For the 2015 payable 2016 real estate tax cycle, the 0.8 percent consumer price index increase results in a maximum estimated increase in property tax revenues of approximately $30,000.</p><p class="p1">The tentative 2016 budget (was) posted on November 13, 2015. The tentative 2016 budget will be posted for 15 days. </p><p class="p1">The tentative 2016 budget (was) posted on the County website at www.unioncountyil.gov on November 13, 2015. </p><p class="p1">The County Board reserves the right to change the tentative budget prior to final adoption. Any changes will be made in accordance with the Illinois Compiled Statutes.</p><p class="p1">The final 2016 budget will be posted on Nov. 30.</p><p class="p1">The final budget will also be posted on the County's website at www.unioncountyil.gov on Nov. 30.</p><p class="p1"><strong>Budget Development Process</strong></p><p class="p1">The budget development process begins approximately three months prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. </p><p class="p1">Union County requires department budget requests to be performance-based and focused on goals, objectives and performance indicators.</p><p class="p1">General budget preparation instructions are provided for the department preparation portion of the process. </p><p class="p1">Department Heads and Elected Officials are asked to complete the preparation of individual department budgets for which they are responsible, with submission to the County Administrator when requested.</p><p class="p1">The County Administrator completes revenue projections and consolidates all gathered information into a comprehensive budget request as a whole to be presented to the County Board.</p><p class="p1">The department heads and elected officials with county budgets, present their budgets to the County Board at open meetings, and engage in question and answer sessions with the board members. </p><p class="p1">The documents are provided to the members of the County Board in advance of the Budget Hearings so that County Board Members have the opportunity to review and prepare before meeting with the department heads and elected officials.</p><p class="p1">The County Board places the budget on file in November to allow for public review and comment, as required by 55 ILCS 5/6-1001. </p><p class="p1">The County Board also conducts a Truth in Taxation Public Hearing in November, if the annual tax levy will increase by more than 5 percent, as required by 35 ILCS 200/18-70.</p><p class="p1">At a November meeting, the County Board adopts and approves the annual Budget and Appropriation Ordinance to establish the budget for the ensuing fiscal year. </p><p class="p1">The adoption of the budget requires an affirmative vote of at least a majority of all members of the County Board. </p><p class="p1">The adoption of the budget constitutes appropriation of the amounts specified therein as expenditures from the funds indicated.</p><p class="p1"><strong>Budget Priorities</strong></p><p class="p1">1. Union County places priority on improving and enhancing its own fiscal stability. </p><p class="p1">2. Develop and maintain long-term plan for County's facilities. </p><p class="p1"><strong>Budget Goals</strong></p><p class="p1">Priority No. I: Improving and enhancing Union County's fiscal stability.</p><p class="p1">Development and implementation of a multi-year plan - planned quality growth. </p><p class="p1">Performance evaluation of services.</p><p class="p1">Establishment of adequate reserves within the County's fund balances. </p><p class="p1">Regular review and evaluation of revenue streams and opportunities. </p><p class="p1">Interdepartmental cooperation to identify successful strategies to be implemented across departmental lines, e.g.: tax cycle, continuous jury, pre-trial services, etc. </p><p class="p1">Partner with other local governments to provide collaboration in service delivery.</p><p class="p1">Develop communication with state legislative officials to ensure the State is a full partner in the funding of mandated services.</p><p class="p1">Priority No. 2: Develop and maintain long-term plan for County's facilities.</p><p class="p1">Develop and maintain an updated condition assessment of all buildings and building systems. </p><p class="p1">Budget appropriate reserves to maintain buildings as documented in condition assessment plan.</p><p class="p1">Schedule workforce and budget appropriation to accomplish annual requirements for replacement.</p><p class="p1"> Consistently assess opportunities for grant funding to upgrade/maintain buildings and building systems.</p><p class="p2">  </p>