By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – County employees would get modest raises and homeowners would pay the same property tax rate under the McLean County Board’s 2017 budget proposal.
The $95 million budget plan marks a five-percent increase over 2016, due largely to the planned Law and Justice Center expansion.
The budget would keep the same property tax rate at .91836, while bringing in additional revenue through a 1.81 percent increase in EAV (Equalized Assessed Valuation). The owner of a $165,000 home would pay $505.11 to the county in 2017.
“This is a stand-pat budget,” McLean County Board administrator Bill Wasson said. “It gives us the ability to maintain our services.”
Wasson added the cash-strapped Illinois budget has placed a greater strain on county finances.
“That has been the challenge,” Wasson said.
Non-union employees would see salary increases of 1.75 percent, up from 1.5 percent this year, while union contracts are still being negotiated.
The spending plan calls for the elimination of 1.5 FTE (Full Time Equivalent) jobs through restructuring in 2017, compared to 7.5 positions which were cut in 2016.
The budget will be presented to various County Board committees before coming to the full board for a vote in November.
The County Board voted 14-6 to spend $105,000 for a new audiovisual system in the County Board room at the McLean County Government Center.
Several board members said they’ve heard complaints from the public that they aren’t able to hear some of the discussion.
“When you have to put the microphone on the podium from (board member Victoria) Harris’ spot because it doesn’t work, that’s not being real transparent to our citizens,” Board member Susan Schafer said.
Board member Chuck Erickson said he supports the upgrades but voted against the emergency appropriation. He said the expense did not constitute an emergency and could have been included in the regular budget process.
“Not one member, not one of you – until (board member Carlo Robustelli) asked – asked when it was going to be put in,” Erickson said.
Facilities management director Jack Moody said the current AV unit dates back to the early 90s, many of its cables are worn and can’t be replaced. He added the system was also damaged by a recent lightning strike which caused an electrical surge.
The measure passed with the minimum number of ‘yes’ votes because a new state law requires that any emergency appropriation must have two-thirds support to pass.
Several board members also expressed interest in live streaming County Board meetings, which Bloomington and Normal city councils already do.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
