[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5978254,"mediaKeyId","5787508-2230a13224f284f833f60b5b5ed2dcec","parentId",5787508,"title","Committee signs off on monthly claims and receives treasurer
s report showing steady collections and lower tax sale inventory","audioSeconds",380,"startMs",2079000,"endMs",2459000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5787508-2230a13224f284f833f60b5b5ed2dcec&start=2079&end=2459","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5787508-2230a13224f284f833f60b5b5ed2dcec/thumbnail_2079000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5978254/Kankakee-County/Illinois/Committee-signs-off-on-monthly-claims-and-receives-treasurerbrs-report-showing-steady-collections-and-lower-tax-sale-inventory","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978254-7ba03c36dbfce509afdbb052bdb11f61/orig.mp4?Expires=1773576029&Signature=I3-7co-7ZTAylxKtDlaba2E2k1SUp2nXRALvkQVrjwItVd1~dojF2hbTlJBfHKzC6vzkayFAJF7~tDcQwBd7QSkBlEI7GsBh1oaI1WMGX8OkreLKQo9VfOs~j9k-bttP9Pi~XhXzLtfkYsvexCiwGtSNtQyEc9tbskq6XYiH7jkjXiy9chxt9kOq6V9q7lyPB5NWnIt6AfPfJvBVhtRsPFXyIa7IZgZvg1ojMEvh0bFGcsizg-ken6BJfNGHy0x0Jy3DZfIsPDy373A7~bGnmL3jin7ZI8ib7u5Hg8zzgx20W2WA7zHWkPNCJbTW0jsIo44cmMDPiVdJnVkyYQgxtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kankakee County,IL","date","2025-09-19T02:46:32Z","article","The Kankakee County Finance Committee approved monthly county claims for August and received reports from the auditor and treasurer on tax collections, cash flow and related matters.

Auditor: The county
s claims office reported 617 claims for August totaling $9,566,664.36. The auditor noted typical claim issues (sales tax charges, incorrect amounts) but reported no pending claims at the time of the meeting. The committee approved the claims on a roll call following the auditor
s presentation.

Treasurer: The county treasurer reported tax collection activity ended Sept. 4 and that total collections were comparable to last year. The treasurer said the surplus auction book for the year is less than half what it was the prior year, which indicates the county took in and retained less property for tax sale because more property owners paid their taxes. The final bid deadline for the sealed bid tax sale process is Oct. 10.

The treasurer also reported bank balances of roughly $70 million (held for statutorily prescribed periods) and that interest earnings on tax payments to date generated about $430,000 for other taxing bodies; the county
s general fund sweep account showed about $460,000 year to date. Staff noted ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) expenses must be expended by the federal deadline (expenses through December 2026 were mentioned during the meeting).

Cash flow and budget notes: Finance staff said sales tax receipts remain better than the prior year and that use tax and PPRT are adjusting after state changes. Staff is updating cash flow projections and will incorporate the newly approved health insurance numbers into the FY26 projections. Members were told to expect more detailed budget and projection materials at the next meeting.

Formal actions: the claims were approved (motion first by Hunter, second by Lauer) and the treasurer
s and collector
s reports and monthly resolutions were combined and approved by voice vote (motion first by Lowey, second by Llewellyn).

Ending: Finance staff said they will circulate updated projections, incorporate the approved insurance numbers and provide a quarterly report to the committee and county board.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kankakee County Finance Committee Meeting 9/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Finance Committee approved August claims totaling about $9.57 million, heard the treasurer report showing tax collections comparable to last year, lower surplus auction inventory and cash balances that generated interest income for taxing bodies.","taxTitle","Kankakee County, Illinois","taxId",4542,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5978259,"Committee approves animal control fee increase citing higher medical and supply costs",207,1856000,2063000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5787508-2230a13224f284f833f60b5b5ed2dcec&start=1856&end=2063","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5787508-2230a13224f284f833f60b5b5ed2dcec/thumbnail_1856000.jpg","/articles/5978259/Kankakee-County/Illinois/Committee-approves-animal-control-fee-increase-citing-higher-medical-and-supply-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978259-a2eb5f3f34665a9788e5adec10e79633/orig.mp4?Expires=1773576029&Signature=YGYSs0RD6M23JN4VyYLTO6ll6pI4j3uvwLcfDUnE2KMu7q2ry~zDSuuQ203~PeHDlj1q0iYmnrEqyZKDQUF-NNchMFbX-VWP6ehQRy4La6x0tdln86yQl~ZTNfaui4ExRcJB1UzVXJCwcYBvI~hNn-Pc2H3X70Q0lKBtaw9R0CWvzFpaB0z9CakdEOc7Ve1a~Dgxo-ekFGEw9IlIgHo0I5P92jmlH3FtsEZ3T25sQnf~TtfnhZbcvPkfehEJhLGbIG3cxt0iELDMxuwnvHbyjk3RFHt0e75A9oKMIYxkp3BfBKlaUiJj2sFfloaeQrjK-HXXJ8tJQya6VM4GXiPpKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kankakee County Finance Committee on Sept. 18 approved proposed fee increases for the county animal control program to address higher operating costs, the sheriff
s office told the committee.

Carrie (sheriff
s office representative) said animal control is not funded by the county
s general fund; it relies on fee revenue from rabies tags, adoptions and other service charges. The office reported recent cost pressures from higher prices for food, vaccines, cleaning supplies and veterinary care. Staff also noted a heavy intake on the day of the meeting — 28 dogs, including 16 puppies — that increased short‑term costs.

Nut graf: Because the animal control operation is self‑funded by fees, staff recommended raising rates to keep the program solvent as supply and medical costs have risen; the committee approved the fee schedule change after brief discussion about potential unintended consequences, such as increased abandonments.

During discussion, board members raised a concern that higher surrender fees could lead some people to release animals instead of paying surrender charges; staff acknowledged that risk but said released animals generally lead to calls to animal control and the county would continue to respond. The packet included a comparison of other counties
fees, but staff cautioned the comparisons were imperfect because funding structures vary across counties (some use general fund support).

Formal action: the committee approved the proposed fee increases; the motion was made by Weber and seconded by Allawi and carried on roll call with all present voting aye.

Discussion versus decision: the record shows committee discussion focused on program funding and operational impact; the vote implemented the recommended fee increases. Staff noted that any revenue from the fee increases will remain with the animal control program rather than the general fund.

Ending: Sheriff
s office staff will implement the new fee schedule and continue to monitor intake and medical expenditure trends for follow-up reporting to the committee.","Kankakee County approved an increase in animal control fees after staff said rising costs for food, medicine and veterinary care and an unusually large recent intake strained the program's fee-funded budget.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5978262,"Finance committee approves Blue Cross plan alternative, dental rate increase and continues EAP",505,547000,1052000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5787508-2230a13224f284f833f60b5b5ed2dcec&start=547&end=1052","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5787508-2230a13224f284f833f60b5b5ed2dcec/thumbnail_547000.jpg","/articles/5978262/Kankakee-County/Illinois/Finance-committee-approves-Blue-Cross-plan-alternative-dental-rate-increase-and-continues-EAP","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978262-c5e6ceb3a0318a911c76f60486d59f17/orig.mp4?Expires=1773576029&Signature=oxfe8u4tDxsH4L9AjcrqimxHIQjJTM9uadReVPVhbfask4HusMe64LTblOeOLorLeWAFi6E-oCzNaw9aVdNyTU9z51bsxYVvwFG-F7dkrzns9tsIloVGh3ih8DkXcnypF2weTLwyPYBEZF~QJboBrgNM-jxz-2jG8fgn0-e4caD~M8r86U0TDNbyBqt3MKx85AcvLgno4VqI9v2oALeE-Bg2dmacP1mUg2vks3YGpVB1tx8Fo-kMWvIFpRvSB6rYGS9WP3gpA9TqPE8gj9D-TUO6oqWBPFogbzgBZ3XvTnUN~fWHQAqexIzvu6vGCIgOU0mbC8vogsIE0u3iqeXahA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kankakee County\u001aFinance Committee members on Sept. 18 approved a recommended alternate medical plan from Blue Cross Blue Shield, a 9.11% increase to the county
s self-funded dental rates and continuation of the county
s employee assistance program.

The committee moved to replace the initial Blue Cross renewal after staff and the subcommittee reviewed multiple proposals and loss‑ratio data. Anita, a county staff member who led the procurement review, said the insurer
s initial renewal was 21.3% (about $1,559,000 in total premium), with the county
s share roughly $1,169,000 and employee contributions averaging 25% (about $389,000).

Mike Lynch, the county
s insurance broker with MSL Benefits, told the committee that large medical claims and sharply rising prescription spending were driving rates statewide. \"There's a 50 some percent increase in drug usage in both specialty medications and non specialty medications,\" Lynch said, citing higher use of specialty drugs and GLP‑1 class drugs.

Nut graf: The committee approved a lower‑cost Blue Cross plan alternative after comparing plan designs, carrier responses and a brief UnitedHealthcare quote that was not seen as comparable; the subcommittee recommended \"Alternate 4\" as the most cost‑effective option that preserved core benefits.

In committee discussion, staff explained that several carriers declined to quote or returned steep increases (one carrier cited a 43% increase). After negotiations, Blue Cross offered a discount that reduced an earlier 21% renewal to a lower percentage; the subcommittee concluded that Alternate 4 (a plan with higher deductibles than the current $1,000 design) offered the best balance of cost and benefit structure. Committee members asked about employee choices; staff said affected employees in discontinued plan designs (about 20 people) would be able to select from the remaining options.

On dental, county staff recommended a 9.11% increase to reflect higher claims costs for the self‑insured dental program. Anita said staff reviewed market comparisons and set the increase to a level intended to avoid depleting the program
s reserves while remaining below many fully insured market rates.

The committee also unanimously approved continuation of the county EAP. Anita said the program (previously provided by Perspectives and now operated under All 1 Health following an acquisition) costs $1.95 per employee per month (about $12,400 per year) and has been provided at that rate since 2019; two‑thirds of employees who use EAP services contact EAP after staff referral.

Formal actions: the single motion combined approval of the recommended Blue Cross Alternate 4 medical plan and the dental rate increase; the motion was made by Weber and seconded by Llewellyn and carried on a roll call in which all present voted aye. A separate motion to continue the EAP carried on roll call (second by Parker).

Discussion versus decision: the record shows detailed discussion of vendor quotes, loss ratios, and pharmacy trends but the committee took formal action only on selecting the alternate Blue Cross plan, approving the dental rate change and continuing EAP. No further policy changes or new contracts beyond the renewals were adopted at the meeting.

Ending: County staff said they will provide detailed plan comparisons to any committee member who requests them and will proceed to implement the selected plan options for plan year administration.","Kankakee County Finance Committee approved a Blue Cross Blue Shield alternate medical plan (Alternate 4), a 9.11% dental self‑insurance rate increase and continuation of the employee assistance program (EAP) after reviewing renewal quotes and projected claim trends.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee signs off on monthly claims and receives treasurer<br>s report showing steady collections and lower tax sale inventory

Committee approves animal control fee increase citing higher medical and supply costs

Finance committee approves Blue Cross plan alternative, dental rate increase and continues EAP