Kane County Jobs Committee members voted to take steps to update the county's internship policy for non-elected offices but said they would not move forward with a paid internship program until budget uncertainty eases.

The committee, led by Chair Corinne Perogue, discussed a county policy that Human Resources would use for department-run internships. Perogue said, "According to our state statute, it has to be paid," and described a draft approach in which a $30,000 riverboat fund allocation could be split among departments to cover stipends of varying lengths.

The committee's discussion focused on two points: legal limits on unpaid internships and the county's current fiscal constraints. Public commenter Brian Anderson of Sugar Grove told the panel he favors unpaid, educational internships while the budget is unsettled. Member Bates said she supports paid internships because "you're asking these young people to come and work for free when they probably got to go to college the next year and they need to save up." Member David Young and other committee members suggested departments could consider interns instead of contractors where a strong justification exists, but they repeatedly cautioned against hiring paid interns while the county budget is unresolved.

Perogue described a draft funding model using riverboat funds: "$30,000 would be spread about ... not with our offices, elected offices, but just within our governmental departments," and said stipends might range from about $1,500 for a short summer placement to about $3,000 for a longer term, with exact amounts left to departments to set. She said compensation would not come from the general fund and that elected offices already run separate internship programs.

Committee members agreed to revise the six-page non-elected-offices internship policy with input from Human Services. The committee set no immediate hiring actions and emphasized the policy changes are preparatory: the chair and members said updates are needed before any program could start and suggested that if approved, internships would not begin until fiscal year 2026.

The Jobs Committee also noted that departments with heavy workloads might legitimately justify a paid intern as an alternative to short-term contract labor, and that internships could lead to full-time hires. Several members warned against using interns to replace full-time positions.

The committee asked staff and Human Resources to prepare recommended policy edits and more detailed cost scenarios for future meetings. No formal motion to fund internships was approved; members said the discussion will continue and the policy will be revised over the next month or two.

Less critical details: public comment on the item was limited to one speaker; the committee chair asked members to review the existing policy online and submit feedback to staff prior to the next meeting.