DuPage County Finance Committee approves series of contracts, grants and transfers including CSBG subgrants

DuPage County Finance Committee members on Feb. 11 approved a bundle of contracts, federal grant subaward agreements and budget transfers, including several Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) subgrantee agreements that county staff said are being backdated by the state and will be paid on a reimbursement basis.

The approvals included subgrantee contracts with Catholic Charities ($65,000), Garden Works ($70,000), 360 Services (not to exceed $37,000), Team Parent Connection (not to exceed $40,000), Outreach Community Services Inc. (not to exceed $100,000) and Home DuPage Inc. (not to exceed $46,888). County staff also presented a rental contract for wound-vac therapy supplies for the DuPage Care Center and multiple county IT, public-safety and public-works procurement awards.

The CSBG agreements cover services from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025. During discussion Member Krogewski asked whether the county would be paying organizations for work already performed before the agreements were approved. Mary Keating, a county staff member, said the contracts fund ongoing programs and that “the state ... backdates it to those dates,” adding “All of our grants like this are reimbursement based anyway, so they would have incurred those expenses and then get reimbursed.” Keating said the state had received the federal funds for the first quarter of 2025 but that the state’s process caused the county’s paperwork to be delayed.

Committee members voted unanimously on the items shown below. Several members asked about the county’s long-term options for avoiding state delays, with one member suggesting the county seek more direct federal funding flow in future federal rounds so nonprofits would not need to carry costs while waiting for reimbursements.

Details of key approvals

- HSP 4-25: Subgrantee agreement with Catholic Charities to provide shelter, case management and financial assistance to situationally homeless and at‑risk residents; term 01/01/2025–12/31/2025; amount $65,000. Motion carried.

- HSP 5-25: Subgrantee agreement with Garden Works to plan, build, promote and sustain community gardens in DuPage County; term 01/01/2025–12/31/2025; amount $70,000. Motion carried.

- HSP 6-25: Subgrantee agreement with 360 Services for case management and related services for homeless youth; term 01/01/2025–12/31/2025; not to exceed $37,000. Motion carried.

- HSP 7-25: Subgrantee agreement with Team Parent Connection to provide car seats, diapers, formula and safety training to low‑income residents; term 01/01/2025–12/31/2025; not to exceed $40,000. Motion carried.

- HSP 8-25: Subgrantee agreement with Outreach Community Services Inc. to provide youth case management, counseling, job training and GED assistance; term 01/01/2025–12/31/2025; not to exceed $100,000. Motion carried.

- HST 9-25: Subgrantee agreement with Home DuPage Inc. for financial literacy and counseling services; term 01/01/2025–12/31/2025; not to exceed $46,888. Motion carried.

- HSP 10-25: Contract with KCI USA Inc. for rental of wound‑vac therapy and medical supplies for the DuPage Care Center; term 02/24/2025–02/23/2026; not to exceed $37,480. Motion carried.

- HSR 4-25: Second reading and approval of the DuPage County Consortium 2025–2029 consolidated plan and 2025 annual action plan element, authorizing filing to qualify for HUD funds (Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships and Emergency Solutions Grant) — staff estimated approximately $5.4 million annually. Motion carried.

- Multiple procurement awards and contract amendments across departments, including IT, public safety and transportation. Notable items included IT/GIS maintenance contracts, sheriff’s office pharmacy and security‑system maintenance contracts, public‑works vehicle and equipment purchases, and professional services contracts for traffic and architectural work for a new highway maintenance facility. Motions carried for each item as shown below.

Why it matters

The CSBG subgrants fund emergency shelter, case management, workforce support and basic needs services for low‑income DuPage County residents. Committee discussion made clear these awards are reimbursement‑based and county staff attributed payment delays to the state’s timing in receiving and passing through federal funds. For nonprofits that rely on these funds, delays can require using organizational reserves to cover payroll and other expenses until reimbursements are processed.

What’s next

County staff said they will proceed with executing the approved contracts and processing reimbursements under normal county procedures. Committee members raised the possibility of advocating for more direct federal funding flows in future grant rounds to reduce dependence on state timing.

Votes at a glance (selected items from the Feb. 11 meeting)

All items below were approved by vote during the meeting unless noted otherwise.

- Approve minutes (item 205-4-8): Motion carried. - Item 6A: Pulled; not voted on today. - Item 6B: Budget transfer 211-2025, various companies/accounting units: Motion carried. - FIP 1-25: Contract to Marsh and McClellan Agency LLC (benefits evaluation), term beginning 04/01/2025; motion carried. - HSP 4-25 through HSP 10-25: CSBG subgrantee agreements and related items listed above; motions carried. - HSR 4-25: 2025–2029 consolidated plan and 2025 annual action plan (HUD funding eligibility); motion carried. - JPSP 8-25, 9-25, 10-25, 12-25: Multiple public‑safety IT and pharmacy contracts (CDW Government LLC; Heartland Business Systems; Polaris Pharmacy Services/Warrington LLC DBA Contract Pharmacy Services; Allied Universal Technology Services); motions carried. - Public Works / FMP / PWP / SMP items: Multiple furniture, vehicle, electrical and Elmhurst Quarry repair contracts and contract closeouts; motions carried. - TEP items: ESRI, Exela Inc., BMC Software annual maintenance contracts; motions carried. - Transportation items (G1–G10 and DTP series): Contract amendments, decreases, new equipment and professional services contracts (Burns & McDonnell; Christopher B. Burke Engineering; AECOM; Superior Road Striping; KC Equipment; National Auto Fleet Group; CIT Trucks LLC; DLZ Illinois; FGM Architects); motions carried. - FIR series: Multiple approvals to accept grants (e.g., 2-1-1 Illinois program grant $57,000) and transfers from the general fund to infrastructure, stormwater and other county funds (transfers ranged from tens of thousands to multi‑million dollar amounts; see meeting minutes for line‑by‑line totals); motions carried. - Payment of claims 9A1–9A6: Received and placed on file.

Ending

Committee Chair confirmed there was no public comment and closed the Finance Committee meeting after completing the agenda items. The committee directed staff to proceed with contract execution and processing under existing county procedures.