McLean County advisory body debates moving $225,000 into emergent funds to speed 2025 grants

McLean County officials discussed a proposal to move $225,000 previously earmarked for larger request-for-proposal projects into the county's emergent funding pool for 2025, increasing the emergent allocation from about $225,000 to $450,000 within the $2,250,000 set aside for community projects.

The change would keep the emergent portion within the roughly 10–25% range the group has discussed previously, county staff said, and would make more flexible dollars available this year for community agencies that bring unplanned needs to the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council (BHCC) or county staff.

County staff described emergent funding as intended for unplanned, urgent needs aligned with the Mental Health Action Plan — for example, responses to natural disasters, public-health emergencies or local traumatic events. “The idea of these emergent funds would be generally for things that are still included within the strategic priorities of the mental health action plan,” Merida, department head, said. She said the county intends to create a notice-of-funding-opportunity-style application and to publicize availability by media lists, email and social media.

Members pressed for clarity about process, timing and authority. One member asked if proposals using the emergent bucket would still come before the advisory group; Merida said decisions about appropriations are made through the county’s process and do not automatically require an advisory-group vote. She and other speakers noted that if emergent needs exceeded available funds, a budget amendment and County Board action would be required.

Several speakers urged faster deployment of dollars. A participant argued the money “belongs in the community” and urged communications and marketing so providers know the funds exist. Others warned against creating a permanent legacy cost that would reduce dollars available for direct services; they asked staff to return with clearer annual-allocation recommendations (for example, whether the emergent set-aside should be 5%, 10% or 20% of community-project funding).

Staff said this is the first year the emergent category has been called out formally; historically projects such as Bridge Academy, Stepping Stones and other provider requests would have been treated as emergent. Staff intends to present a proposed percentage for 2026 during the agency’s regular August budget discussions and to run the emergent pool as an open application process in 2026 if the group approves that approach.

The discussion produced no vote to move the $225,000 during the meeting. Members directed staff to continue developing application criteria, marketing and administration details and to clarify how the emergent pool would interact with RFP-driven priorities and county budget processes.

Background: The Behavioral Health community projects budget for 2025 totals $2,250,000. Staff reported approximately $450,000 of that total is currently uncommitted; $225,000 is currently earmarked for emergent needs and an additional $225,000 had been earmarked for larger RFP-driven priorities but could be shifted into the emergent pool if the group decides to do so.

What happens next: County staff will develop the application process and communication plan for emergent funds and will present recommended percentages and procedures for 2026 during upcoming budget discussions.