County Board Considers Proposed State Cut in Local Government Funding

Effingham County Board members adopted a resolution Monday regarding the State's proposed reduction in funding for local governments.

Board Chairman Jim Nieman said the resolution asks that if the County's share of State funding is reduced by a reported $743,000...7.4% of the county budget...the move should be accompanied by a corresponding reduction in unfunded mandates imposed by the State. Nieman said the County is also proposing that existing revenue in special funds could be used for general fund expenditures, once the County meets its special fund obligations.

Nieman will be in Springfield Tuesday to meet with Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner regarding the proposal. He said the governor is meeting with county board chairmen as part of his efforts to get a handle on the state's budget deficit.

The Board approved contracts with the Laborers Local 1197 representing workers in the county treasurer, county clerk and recorder, maintenance, probation and public defender clerical staffers. The agreement calls for a 2% annual pay increase for three years. There was no action on contracts covering state's attorney and circuit clerk office employees due to questions on behalf of the Union as to the numbers.

Board members approved a $15,000 loan of recaptured grant funds to a firm to be known as Retro's Pizza on West Fayette; approved the location of a sign promoting the Farmer's Market to be offered again this year during the growing season on the lawn of the old Courthouse; and tabled a decision on where to place a memorial remembering state police officers killed while on duty in District 12. Nieman said there are still questions about how much space will be needed for the memorial.

The Board extended an agreement with the Effingham County Cultural Center and Museum Association to pay the utility costs at the County Museum in the old Courthouse through the end of the fiscal year; and tabled an ordinance proposed by the State that would permit the sale and use of certain fireworks in Illinois instead of having to go out of state to buy the fireworks and then set them off here illegally. The proposal had just been received by Board members over the weekend without much time for review.

Board members also honored Sherry Shamhart for 25 years' service to the Probation Department; recognized the Howard G. Buffett Foundation for funding the purchase of a K9 vehicle for the Sheriff's Department; amended the employee handbook adding a pregnancy rights policy to conform with Federal law; and named Board member Joe Thoele to the Farmland Assessment Review Board and named Rebecca Merten and Karen Feldkamp of the County Health Department to the County Safety Committee.

The Board also received cookies from county 4-Hers in honor of Local Government Month.