LaSalle County 708 board seeks $50,000 contingency as federal changes loom
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Summary
The 708 Mental Health Board presented a proposed FY26 budget to the finance committee and added a $50,000 ‘reconciliation act emergency funding’ line to cover potential service gaps tied to federal changes; no committee action was taken at the meeting.
Don Miscovich, director of the LaSalle County 708 Mental Health Board, and Dave McClure, the board’s president, presented the board’s FY26 budget to the Finance and TIF Committee on Sept. 9.
The board proposed modest increases to contracted services and personnel and added a $50,000 contingency line labeled “reconciliation act emergency funding” to address potential shortfalls caused by recent federal legislative changes often referred to in the presentation as the Reconciliation Act. Miscovich said the money would be reserved to subsidize sliding-fee costs or other urgent needs should agencies lose federal or state funding or see increased client financial burden. “We didn’t want to overreact, but we didn’t want to underact,” Miscovich said.
Why it matters: the 708 board is a local funding partner for mental health, substance use disorder and intellectual and developmental disability services. At the meeting Miscovich said the board is a “funder of last resort” and funds programs that help fill gaps not covered by other payers. The proposed $50,000 line would be used selectively and would require tightened board parameters before release.
Other budget details presented: the board proposed a 3% increase for contract line items and a 3–3.5% increase in personnel-related costs, reflecting county salary guidance. Miscovich said the board aims to maintain a six-month operating reserve; he also said the 708 board’s operating model deliberately keeps administrative costs low so a high share of levy revenue goes to direct services.
Committee members asked about auditing and accountability. Miscovich said the board requires annual applications, monthly reports, external audits and program goals from funded agencies, and the new contingency fund would be governed by specific parameters to ensure targeted use. He said the board will reassess need for additional funds after observing agency impacts in the coming months.
No committee vote was taken on the 708 budget during the Sept. 9 meeting. The presenters encouraged members to contact board staff with follow-up questions and to request additional documentation.
