Probation director warns reduced service-fee revenue will require county support

Stacy, probation and court services director, told the Lee County finance committee Wednesday that the department is weathering changes from state rules that limit what probation service fees may pay for and asked the committee to move a small set of items into county general to comply with new guidance. The change matters because “those are the fees that keep our office running,” Stacy said, referring to probation service fees that fund much of the department’s operations. She told the committee the office collects fees, fines and grant revenue and uses most of it for department operations but that the Illinois Supreme Court and Administrative Office guidance has tightened what those fees can cover. The director said the department has 10 full‑time employees and typically two to three…