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Regional AOG seeks larger local contributions as director warns of no reserves
Summary
The 5 County Association of Governments outlined its services to Kane County and proposed a bylaw change to raise $400,000 annually from founding governments to build reserves; Kane County's share would rise from about $18,000 to $26,000 a year under the proposal.
The 5 County Association of Governments (AOG) outlined a plan on June 30 to shore up its finances by asking founding governments to share a new $400,000 annual local contribution after its executive director said the organization currently operates with essentially no reserves.
Darren Bushman, executive director, told Kane County commissioners the AOG administers aging services, Medicaid waiver programs, mobility and transportation support, veterans services, economic-development grant programs and community planning assistance across five counties. Bushman said the agency leverages a modest local contribution (about $160,000 across the five counties) into roughly $13.5 million worth of services but has little in reserve and sometimes relies on operating lines to meet payroll.
To build a recommended minimum reserve, AOG leaders propose raising local contributions by $400,000 annually and reallocating shares so counties pay 65 percent, cities 25 percent and school districts 15 percent. Under that model, Kane County’s annual ask would rise from about $18,000 to roughly $26,000; the AOG has also requested a $5,000 contribution from the county school district and identified Kanab City as a potential $7,500 contributor.
Commissioners thanked AOG staff for the overview and asked questions about which services are statutory county responsibilities. One commissioner noted Kane County already funds core public-health and behavioral-health functions and asked how nonstatutory services (weatherization, heat assistance and other supportive programs) should be apportioned. Bushman said the AOG is looking to formalize a more diversified funding approach to put the organization on solid financial footing and will bring bylaw amendments forward for review.
The AOG presentation was informational; commissioners asked staff to review the proposal and provide feedback to the AOG steering committee. No formal county commitment was requested at the meeting.
