White County commissioners reject $600,000 contribution for Monticello ladder truck

The White County Board of Commissioners voted 3-4 on May 19 to reject an interlocal agreement that would have committed the county to provide $600,000 toward the purchase of a new ladder truck for the Monticello Fire Department. The agreement would have split purchase funding among the county, Union Township and the City of Monticello, with the city covering the remaining balance.

Supporters said the purchase would provide countywide fire protection and could be funded from the county's economic development reserve, money set aside from wind and solar project payments. Opponents urged a loan structure or greater contractual protections in place of the county's direct contribution, citing concerns about fiscal oversight, optics and the lack of ownership details in the interlocal agreement.

The motion to approve the interlocal agreement was placed on the floor during the meeting after a presentation describing the proposed funding split: $600,000 from the county, $600,000 from townships and the remainder from the city. Officials said the ladder truck manufacturer's lead time meant the vehicle could not be deferred for several years without delaying replacement until a later order cycle.

Discussion centered on two funding questions: whether to use the county's economic development reserve fund'which receives a share of payments from renewable energy projects'and whether the county should structure its contribution as a loan or other contract mechanism to secure oversight and guarantee long-term service. Supporters argued the money in question is not raised via the county tax levy and that improved fire protection is an economic development issue for the whole county. Opponents said a loan would offer safeguards and that committing funds without clearer protections risked taxpayer perception problems despite fund sources being non-tax revenue.

The board took a voice vote; the clerk recorded 3 ayes and 4 nays and declared the motion defeated. After the vote, commissioners directed staff to proceed with other agenda business and to revisit related budget items and interlocal details if needed.

The interlocal agreement was described at the meeting as requiring signatures from the City of Monticello, Union Township and the Board of Commissioners. The county had already advertised the interlocal for consideration.

The ladder truck purchase and the interlocal ultimately were not approved by the county. The matter was discussed alongside related budget and appropriations items at the meeting; commissioners who opposed the direct appropriation said they would prefer a loan or contractual protections if the parties wished to proceed later.

Clarifying details from the meeting: county staff described the county economic development reserve fund as the repository for a portion of payments the county receives from local wind and solar projects; officials said 60% of certain economic development payments go into the reserve while the remainder is used in the annual budget. At the meeting commissioners reported the reserve balance available to fund county economic development projects was sufficient for the proposed contribution, but several commissioners still objected on grounds of accountability and structure.

No ordinance or appropriation tied to the ladder truck was adopted by the county on May 19; the interlocal motion failed.