McLean County Finance Committee approves budget amendments, fee changes and personnel reclassification

The McLean County Finance Committee on April 9 voted to approve a set of routine and administrative items, including budget carryforwards for 2024 and an increase to the 2025 budget, a software renewal for the County Clerk, assignment of a mobile-home tax-sale certificate, an ordinance to raise certain animal-control fees and a personnel reclassification in the Sheriff’s Department.

The committee first approved the consent agenda, which included approval of the March 5, 2025 regular-meeting minutes and recommended payment of bills and transfers totaling $2,745,881.90. Chair Layman called for the voice vote; members signified approval and the motion carried.

The committee then approved two ordinances presented by County Auditor Michelle Anderson: an amendment to the 2024 Combined Annual Budget and Appropriation Ordinance to carry forward unspent purchase-order funds into 2025, and an amendment to the 2025 Combined Annual Budget and Appropriation Ordinance to increase appropriations. Anderson described the pair as routine year-end carryforward and appropriation adjustments that mirror practice in prior years.

The County Clerk’s office obtained committee approval to renew online index/book software services with COT Systems so previously digitized archival records remain accessible to title companies and lenders. County Clerk staff described the renewal as “business as usual” and said the archives digitized last year will be placed in the renewed system.

Treasurer Rebecca McNeil brought a resolution authorizing the County Board chair to assign a mobile-home tax-sale certificate of purchase that the county has held since 2019; the committee approved that resolution. The committee also voted to accept and place on file the Treasurer’s monthly financial report for March.

The committee approved an ordinance, introduced by Marchelle Thompson of McLean County Animal Control, to increase select animal-control fees in McLean County Code, chapter 205, article 11, section 205-32. Thompson said the adjustment aligns county fees with comparables, rising material and medication costs, and industry practice while seeking to maintain affordability for residents.

Sheriff Matt Lane asked for and received committee approval to reclassify positions within the Sheriff’s Department after a retirement in the secretarial area. The department will promote Melanie Kunkel from a supervisor-level 3 position to supervisor-level 4 and refill a records supervisor vacancy at a lower supervisor-level 2 to preserve records supervision while recognizing Kunkel’s expanded administrative duties.

All motions on the floor were carried by voice vote; committee members recorded vocal assent and the chair declared each motion carried.