County Board Approves Tentative Budget for New Fiscal Year

Effingham County board members Monday approved a proposed county budget for layover for the fiscal year that begins in December.

The measure will be finalized in time for the start of the new fiscal year. 

The Board has also been working on the levy for the fiscal year, but will delay finalizing the measure until the end of November when the final income and outgo is determined.

Board members voted to purchase three acres of ground on the northwest corner of Pike Avenue and Raney Street in the City Business Park. The property will be utilized as the site for the county's public transportation system. The County is purchasing the property from Agracel, Incorporated for $150,000.  

The Board approved a stipend of $1,000/month for the premium of County employees enrolled in the group health insurance plan along with a stipend of $1,650 to the Health Savings Accounts of enrolled employees. It was also decided to eliminate a group health insurance waiver incentive and a Medicare incentive since they weren't to all County employees.

Board members approved a resolution to continue utilizing the States Attorney's Appellate Prosecutor Service, and approved the reappointment of Greg Koester as County Engineer. The Board approved a subdivision northwest of Shumway being developed by Jack Poff; agreed to replace a dying tree on the southeast corner of the Courthouse with a new tree; and approved $100,000 in opioid settlement funds for the Sheriff's Office for development of a new plan to get inmates off the drug.

The Board also returned $60.91 in previously allotted ARPA funds that were assigned to Mason Township Park District, then allocated $54,895 in ARPA funds toward the cost of the historic courtyard and gazebo project, and approved a joint agreement with the City of Effingham toward the cost of the work. It was also agreed to allot $3,600 in ARPA funding to the Childcare Research Committee for a Gap Scholarship recipient and another $3,600 for another recipient.

Board members approved $15,000 to the Effingham Regional Growth Alliance; approved the Sheriff's Office disposal of abandoned property to FISH; and approved disbursement of $98,421 for payment to Superior Windows Company. Board members also approved a concrete agreement with F&C Concrete for work on the Courtyard and Gazebo project.