Peoria Standard

Peoria County Board Ways & Means Committee met Sept. 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

MEMBERS PRESENT:	Betty Duncan – Chairperson; Matt Windish -Vice Chairperson; Daniel Kelch, Terry Ruhland, Sharon Williams
MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT:	Scott Sorrel – County Administrator; Shauna Musselman – Assistant County Administrator; Jennie Cordis Boswell - State's Attorney's Office; Gretchen Pearsall – County Administration; Heather McCord – Chief Financial Officer; Julie Kusturin – Finance; Elizabeth Gannon – Election Commission; Rachael Parker – County Clerk; David Ryan – Supervisor of Assessments; Nicole Bjerke – Treasurer; Mike Brooks – Veterans Assistance Commission
OTHERS PRESENT:

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Duncan at 3:00 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

A motion to approve the minutes of August 28, 2023 was made by Mr. Windish and seconded by Ms. Williams. The motion carried.

Budget

A motion to approve budgets under the purview of the Ways and Means Committee as recommended by the County Administrator was made by Ms. Williams and seconded by Mr. Ruhland.

Mr. Sorrel advised that the recommended budget for all funds for FY2024 has sources totaling $150.6 million and expenditures totaling $154.9 million. He noted that Intergovernmental Revenues, Charges for Services, and Property Taxes are the county’s largest sources of revenue, while Personnel is the largest county expenditure.

Mr. Sorrel advised that based upon data from the Supervisor of Assessments Office and elected township assessors, a 6.7% increase in Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) has been projected for taxes payable in 2024. He stated that the recommended property tax levy for taxes payable in 2024 is recommended at $31.34 million with a continued flat tax rate of 82.41¢ per $100.00 of Equalized Assessed Value (EAV).

Mr. Sorrel advised that the Ways and Means Committee has budget oversight of a recommended $4.9 million in revenues (3%) and $4.3 million in expenditures (3%) across all funds.

Mr. Sorrel stated that the FY2023 General Fund budget has a recommended balanced budget of $56,770,082.00 in revenues and expenditures. He advised that Intergovernmental Revenue is the largest revenue stream in the General Fund, while Personnel is the largest county expenditure.

Mr. Sorrel advised that the Ways and Means Committee has oversight of 7% of revenues and 6% of expenditures in the General Fund.

The motion to approve the budget as recommended carried (7-0).

Informational Items/Reports/Other Minutes/Updates

County Clerk

➢ Collections and Transactions Report

Ms. Parker directed committee members to the submitted report and stood for any questions. There were no questions or comments.

Ms. Parker advised that a new and updated Peoria County Directory will be available in October.

Peoria County Election Commission

Ms. Gannon advised that recruitment efforts for election judges continues for the 2024 March Primary and 2024 November General Elections. She stated that an informational open house for those interested in being an election judge will be held Saturday, September 30th, and outreach has begun to area high schools in an effort to recruit student judges.

Ms. Gannon advised that approximately 26 counties will be participating in voter integrity press conferences throughout the state over the next two days, and stated that she will be joining the press conference being held in Tazewell County on September 26th.

Supervisor of Assessments/Board of Review

• Tax Cycle

Mr. Ryan advised that over 84,000 assessment notices have been mailed and have been published in the Journal Star. He also gave a presentation at Illinois Central College on the process. He advised that although the office has received many phone calls regarding the assessment notices, few complaints have been filed to date. He stated that the deadline to file Board of Review complaints is October 13, 2023.

Treasurer

Ms. Bjerke advised that the 4th tax distribution on September 20th totaled $105.5 million, with 89% of taxes levied being distributed to date. She advised that 66 parcels were sold at the Trustee Auction which resulted in approximately $97,000.00 to be distributed to taxing districts. She advised that an additional auction for approximately 46 properties within the City of Peoria has been scheduled and will end November 3, 2023.

Veteran's Assistance Commission

Mr. Brooks advised that four staff members attended annual continuing education training last week.

Mr. Brooks advised that the Commission saw 424 veteran walk-ins in the past month, and took 3,435 phone calls.

Mr. Brooks advised $6.2 million in benefits for veterans were secured in August and $55 million in total benefits have been secured in 2023 to date. He added that $8.1 million in lump sum payments have been awarded to veterans.

Mr. Brooks stated that multiple records were set in the past month on forms completed as a result of the August 14, 2023 PACT Act intent to file deadline.

In answer to a question posed by Ms. Duncan at the last committee meeting, Mr. Brooks advised that the VAC does not have a Meals on Wheels type program for veterans specifically.

Resolution

➢ Monthly Delinquent Taxes

A motion to approve was made by Mr. Kelch and seconded by Mr. Windish. The motion carried (5-0).

Public Comment

Chairperson Duncan called for any public comment. There were no public comments.

Miscellaneous

None.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned by Chairperson Duncan at 3:30 pm

https://www.peoriacounty.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10232023-1518