Board splits $4.822M sustainability appropriation; approves $2.5M Loaves & Fishes award, seeks details on Northern Illinois Food Bank spending
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Summary
DuPage County bifurcated a $4.822 million DuPage Sustainability Initiative appropriation, voting separately to approve $2.5 million for Loaves & Fishes and leaving a $2 million allocation to the Northern Illinois Food Bank subject to requests for reporting and a presentation on beneficiaries and distribution.
The DuPage County Finance Committee on April 14 voted to divide a previously combined $4.822 million funding package for the DuPage Sustainability Initiative and to approve a separate $2.5 million appropriation to Loaves & Fishes.
Member Rakoff moved to separate the Loaves & Fishes portion from two other items that had been rolled together; the motion to bifurcate carried. The board then voted by roll call to approve the $2.5 million award to Loaves & Fishes. The bifurcation left an additional $2,000,000 for the Northern Illinois Food Bank and a $322,000 allocation for the Conservation Foundation to be handled in the remaining action.
Several members pressed for greater transparency about how Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB) monies would be distributed within DuPage County. Member Zane asked who would receive the $2,000,000 and requested a presentation or report detailing which DuPage pantries and programs would receive the funds. Member LaPlante said regular data on how funds are spent is essential to ensure the county addresses local food insecurity effectively.
County staff (Mary) responded that the $2,000,000 is intended to purchase fresh produce specifically for DuPage pantries and does not supply pantries outside DuPage. Mary said the funding "purchases produce and delivers it to DuPage Pantries only" and that the money supplements existing dry/grocery distribution. Staff also said a list of DuPage agencies receiving food from NIFB was available and would be circulated.
Board members asked that staff and the Northern Illinois Food Bank provide more detailed reporting, including how the county's contribution would be allocated geographically and whether the donation would supplement or supplant existing private donations or food bank-provided resources. Several members requested a presentation at a forthcoming Human Services meeting or special briefing.
Actions and next steps: the board approved the Loaves & Fishes appropriation and asked staff to obtain and circulate detailed reporting about NIFB distribution in DuPage County and to confirm whether funds are strictly additive to existing services. The remaining appropriation items will be processed per the board's bifurcated votes.
