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Committee considers general-fund loan to Animal Control for renovation of recently purchased Humane Society building
Summary
Facilities staff asked the Facilities Committee for permission to research whether the general fund could lend money to the Animal Control Fund to complete renovations on the recently purchased Humane Society building, which an engineering assessment put at about $1.2 million of recommended work.
Champaign County facilities staff told the Facilities Committee the county owns the former Humane Society building and a GHR engineering assessment identified approximately $1,200,000 in recommended repairs and upgrades, including a major HVAC problem the assessor said is not commercial-grade for an animal-occupied facility.
Staff said Animal Control is self-funded through fines, fees and licenses and that the department’s fund balance will likely be about $700,000 by the end of the year. Staff asked the committee whether members wanted staff to research whether the general fund could legally lend money to the Animal Control Fund to complete necessary work and set up a repayment schedule, for example three to five years. The committee asked facilities and county finance (represented in the discussion by “Travis”) to research whether interest must be charged on any interfund loan and to quantify impacts on the general fund and other offices.
Committee members discussed alternatives including selling the building, using Animal Control’s fund balance, or a loan that would be repaid from Animal Control revenues. Staff noted the building has been vacant for almost a year and that county departments are seeking storage and office space; several members suggested initial use could be lower-cost storage to reduce immediate renovation needs.
Facilities staff said they will perform the legal and fiscal research, prepare a more specific scope and cost estimate based on the GHR report (distinguishing needs versus wants), and return to the committee with options before taking any matter to the full county board for approval.
