LaSalle County finance members weigh generator, jail roof and other capital projects as Fund 28 tightens

LaSalle County finance staff told the county's finance group that Fund 28 — the county's capital assets fund — has a current cash balance of $555,370.46 before an expected $400,000 transfer from the general fund, and that several large projects this year could leave the fund constrained.

“Currently, once I do the transfer per the auditors, the balance currently will be $555,370.46,” said Amanda, identified at the meeting as finance staff, as she reviewed the fund summary. She said the $400,000 transfer from the general fund that appears in the budget has not yet been completed but will be processed, which would raise the fund to about $955,000.

The update prompted questions about where the money for several capital projects would come from and whether some items could be charged to the county’s public safety fund. “So if we're talking about a generator, just 400,000 for a round number, obviously, that would take that down to 809 hundred thousand dollars,” Amanda said while reviewing other obligations in Fund 28.

Why it matters: County staff and committee members said several planned and partly completed projects — including a jail…