Kane County board divided over using riverboat funds for strategic plan and lobbyists; motion to remove $150,000 fails 8–7

The county board’s riverboat committee recommended internal awards and new grants totaling roughly $4.5 million for fiscal year 2027, including $642,400 in previously awarded but unspent commitments and $3,896,958 in new awards. Among the proposed items were $150,000 for a county strategic plan process and a recurring government‑relations/lobbyist allocation of approximately $120,000.

Several board members argued that recurring operating costs and long‑term professional services should be paid from the general fund rather than from riverboat grant money, which they said is a finite, discretionary revenue source. “If you think the program is important enough, get it into your general fund,” one member said, urging the board to move recurring costs out of riverboat allocations.

Supporters of using riverboat funds pointed out those monies are an existing revenue stream that can be used for internally sponsored projects and noted that unspent allocations revert to the riverboat fund. A county attorney and riverboat committee representatives explained the allocation process and said mid‑year adjustments are possible if the board requests them.

A motion to remove the $150,000 strategic‑plan allocation and reallocate it only after the full board developed a strategic‑plan scope failed on a roll call: 8 in favor of removal, 7 opposed. Because the removal motion failed, the riverboat committee’s package—including the strategic‑plan allotment—remained in place and will go to the full board under the committee’s recommendation.

Board members asked that any multiyear contracts and recurring items in the riverboat budget be reviewed during the full budget process so the county is not reliant on grant‑style funding for core operations.