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Finance committee restores $20,000 for Soil and Water after members raise concerns about cutting funding to zero
Summary
LaSalle County Finance and TIF Committee on Oct. 14 agreed by committee consensus to include $20,000 in next year's budget for the Soil and Water Conservation district after members raised concerns about eliminating the county contribution entirely.
The LaSalle County Finance and TIF Committee on Oct. 14 reached consensus to include $20,000 in next year's proposed budget for the Soil and Water Conservation district, after committee members warned removing county support entirely would be difficult to reverse.
Committee member Miss Nikki, who brought information from Soil and Water to the panel, said the group performs services county staff rely on, including monthly "Lisa scores," and recommended leaving a nonzero appropriation. "I would respectfully request 20,000 to be put in there," she said during the Oct. 14 meeting.
Committee members debated smaller and larger amounts. One member recalled an earlier discussion of $7,500; others pointed to the district's reported cash and certificate of deposit holdings during the fiscal year. Committee members noted varying figures mentioned in materials and discussion: CDs and savings reported in the meeting were described at different times as "about $800,000 in CDs," "around $53,000," and larger sums appearing in other accounts; members agreed those account totals did not justify cutting county support to zero.
Stephanie (staff member) presented the working budget document during the discussion and confirmed the line can be adjusted. After discussion, Committee member Templeton said $20,000 would be "more than sufficient" given the district's reported balances. Chair and other members agreed to place $20,000 on the budget and revisit later if needed.
Why it matters: Soil and Water districts provide technical assistance and services to county landowners, and county contributions are a recurring line item in the county budget. Committee members said cutting support entirely would make it difficult to restore later and could affect services county offices depend on.
Next steps: The committee directed staff to place $20,000 in the proposed budget for Soil and Water Conservation and to circulate updated budget worksheets to committee members.
