McHenry County board splits on financing $3.75M radio purchase; RTA, capital, reserves and ARPA interest debated
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Summary
Board members debated funding options for a roughly $3.75 million county radio system on Jan. 15, splitting over whether to use RTA (sales tax) funds, capital/reserve accounts, or ARPA interest. Chair Scala proposed an amendment to divide costs; the purchase is scheduled for a vote Tuesday and would require a supermajority under some scenarios.
County board members spent a prolonged portion of the Jan. 15 Committee of the Whole meeting debating how to fund a planned replacement of the county radio fleet, estimated at about $3.75 million.
"Right now, we have approximately 560 radios in the county," Dr. Sager said during the discussion, and estimated the purchase at roughly $6,000 per radio. The full purchase was identified on the docket as about $3,750,000, with half expected to be paid from capital. That left an RTA (regional transportation authority sales‑tax) exposure of $1,875,204. Chair Michael Scala said he would offer an amendment to divide the remaining funding among RTA, capital and reserves: "$600,000 from RTA, 600,000 additional to capital, and 675,204 from fund reserves," he said.
Members split on principle and precedent. Several speakers cautioned that RTA funds are derived largely from sales tax and have been earmarked for transportation projects; Kunkel and others argued using RTA now would jeopardize future bridge and road work. Ms. Althoff and Dr. Sager described the board's desire to use RTA only as a limited one‑time bridge and to protect transportation priorities; others urged spreading the cost to protect any single department.
Board members also discussed whether interest earned in other funds could be used. Finance staff said ARPA interest sits in an ARPA fund balance of roughly $4 million and "can be used for anything the board decides," though members warned that deploying those dollars reduces flexibility for other projects funded from the ARPA account.
Process details were also clarified: the item will be taken up by the full board on Tuesday, and Scala said he would offer the amendment then. Several members noted that some outcomes will require a supermajority and asked that any amendment language be delivered in writing ahead of the vote.
No appropriation vote was taken in committee; members instead asked staff for written figures and for proposed amendments to be submitted before Tuesday's meeting.
