Champaign County board approves multiple budget amendments, grant appropriations and software agreement

The Champaign County Board on a series of voice votes approved multiple budget amendments, grant-related appropriations and an intergovernmental agreement for property-tax appraisal software during its regular meeting.

The most sizable appropriation was for Indoor Climate Resources Agency operations: the board approved an increase in appropriations of $3,649,631 tied to grant funds, with matching revenue recorded in the packet. The board also approved smaller budget amendments for animal control, the county physical plant, the state's attorney, sheriff training and a $375,000 appropriation to cover out-of-county boarding related to a jail consolidation project that is not yet complete.

Why it matters: The actions move grant-funded projects forward and provide county departments funds for operational shortfalls or one-time payouts. The jail-related appropriation covered immediate housing needs while the county completes construction and consolidates inmates back from other counties.

Most important outcomes

- A $3,649,631 appropriation for the Indoor Climate Resources Agency to spend grant funds was approved. - A $375,000 appropriation was approved to continue paying for out-of-county boarding while the new jail work finishes. - Grants and subawards routed through Regional Planning Commission (RPC) — including building electrification and energy-auditor training grants — were approved for application and acceptance if awarded. - The county adopted an intergovernmental agreement for computer-assisted mass appraisal software (referred to in the packet as “Grama software”). - An amendment to a professional services agreement with BerryDunn McNeal & Parker LLP was approved.

Details, supporting discussion and context

Professional services amendment and routine approvals: Early in the meeting the clerk noted a packet amendment to a professional services agreement with BerryDunn and McNeal and Parker LLP; the board voted to approve that amendment by voice vote.

Budget amendments: The board considered a sequence of budget amendments identified in the meeting materials by internal numbers. Items included: - BUA 202412744 (Fund 2091, Animal Control): increased appropriations of $321,450 to pay a retiring employee payout. Motion moved and seconded; approved by voice vote. - BUA 20241271 (Fund 1080, General Corporate — Physical Plant): increased appropriations of $53,745.31 for a retiring employee payout; approved by voice vote. - BUA 202412816 (Fund 1080, General Corporate — State's Attorney): increased appropriations of $25,000 to cover outstanding invoices; mover/second noted; approved by voice vote. - BUA 2025121 (Fund 2109, Indoor Climate Resources Agency): increase in appropriations $3,649,631 and matching revenue for grant funds; motion moved and seconded; approved by voice vote. - BUA 20251,30 (Fund 1080, General Corporate — Sheriff): increase in appropriations of $62,676.55 funded by Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board grant funds; approved by voice vote. - BUA 2025160 (Fund 1080, General Corporate — Correctional Center): increase in appropriations $375,000 to cover out-of-county boarding until the jail consolidation project is complete; motion moved and seconded and approved by voice vote.

Several board members noted department officials were present for the items (for example, the sheriff and the state's attorney were in the room when their items were discussed). Finance chair Dr. Furtado highlighted the use of general fund and public safety sales tax fund balances and said the board was attempting to preserve fund balance for future phases of capital projects. That discussion included an acknowledgement the appropriation to cover the jail boarding was expected to carry the county through approximately February and that the board would return if additional months required funding.

Grants and RPC subawards: The board approved, by motion, the submission of several Regional Planning Commission grant applications and acceptance of funds if awarded. The items cited in the packet included: - CO Biotics Attic Technical Testing and Infiltration Control Grant (DEEEO11592). - Illinois Building Electrification Research subaward. - Residential energy auditor training grant. Board members noted these had largely been executed in practice before the new multi-step approval process was put in place; staff said audit filing and subaward paperwork had become a gating issue for RPC grant eligibility, and the packet cited that the audit had been accepted to the portal on Dec. 24, enabling RPC activity.

Intergovernmental agreement and software: The board adopted a resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement to obtain computer-assisted mass appraisal software (packet labeled as Grama software). The resolution was approved by voice vote.

Mobile home tax sale certificates and capital asset policy: The board approved by omnibus vote a set of resolutions assigning mobile home tax sale certificates of purchase (permanent parcel numbers listed in the packet) and separately adopted a new county-wide capital asset policy. Staff said the RPC needed a capital asset depreciation policy in order to purchase property in RPC’s name as part of grant activity; county staff and outside auditors (CliftonLarsonAllen) reviewed the policy language.

Finance chair comments and fund balance context: Dr. Furtado and other members framed the appropriations as use of fund balance for operational needs and one-time payouts. Dr. Furtado noted the board was trying to preserve the Public Safety Sales Tax fund balance for other ongoing projects and said the appropriation to cover the jail boardings and employee payouts was among the largest single-day fund balance expenditures in recent memory outside of prior nursing home-related activity.

Votes at a glance

- Amendment to professional services agreement with BerryDunn McNeal & Parker LLP — approved (motion: Farney; second: Eric) — voice vote, “ayes have it.” - BUA 202412744 (Animal Control, $321,450) — approved (mover: Beth; second: Jamala) — voice vote. - BUA 20241271 (Physical Plant, $53,745.31) — approved (mover: Matt; second: JJ) — voice vote. - BUA 202412816 (State's Attorney, $25,000) — approved (mover: Eric; second: Carolyn) — voice vote. - BUA 2025121 (Indoor Climate Resources Agency, $3,649,631 appropriation) — approved (mover: Aaron; second: Jenny Lockshin) — voice vote. - BUA 20251,30 (Sheriff, $62,676.55; IL Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board grant) — approved (mover: Ed; second: Jamala) — voice vote. - BUA 2025160 (Correctional Center, $375,000 for out-of-county boarding) — approved (mover: Jenny; second: JJ) — voice vote. - Resolutions assigning mobile home tax sale certificates (three parcels) — approved (mover: Beth; second: Matt) — voice vote. - Resolution adopting county capital asset policy — approved (mover: JJ; second: Jen Locke) — voice vote. - Resolution adopting intergovernmental agreement for computer-assisted mass appraisal software (Grama) — approved (mover: Beth; second: John) — voice vote. - Regional Planning Commission grant application approvals / acceptance if awarded (three grants listed) — approved (mover: Aaron; second: Daniel) — voice vote.

What the board did not decide here

No item in this sequence was tabled or failed; when staff indicated the jail consolidation project timeline might extend past February the board agreed it would return if more funding months were required.

Sources and provenance

Topic intro excerpt: “We received an amendment to the professional services agreement between Champaign County and the Berry Dunn and McNeal and Parker LLC. And I believe we need to vote on this. I move approval.” (transcript time ~s=483.66)

Topic finish excerpt: “All in favor. Aye. Opposed? Alright. Thank you very much.” (closing finance discussion ~s=1259.64)