Finance committee votes to forward $7.5 million iFiber recommendation to full board to bolster self‑insurance trust

The LaSalle County Finance & TIF Committee on July 14 voted to forward a recommendation to the full county board to allocate $7,500,000 of iFiber funds to the county’s insurance trust to support continued self‑insurance. The committee recorded one no vote; the measure will be considered by the full board in August.

Committee members debated competing priorities for the iFiber balance, estimated in committee discussion at about $9.5 million. Proponents argued that dedicating a majority of the iFiber balance to the insurance trust would shield the county from large annual bond payments and support employee benefits; opponents raised near‑term capital needs such as running fiber to the highway department and nursing home. During the debate a committee member said, "I do not wanna give all the iFiber money to insurance trust, but I do wanna give a big portion of it" (Committee member). The motion to recommend $7.5 million passed after a voice vote with one recorded dissent.

Committee Chair Tina Bush said the finance committee’s role was to make a recommendation and that the full county board would make the final decision. Members asked that the insurance trust present cost comparisons at the full‑board meeting showing the financial impact of remaining self‑insured versus purchasing commercial insurance. The committee’s recommendation does not itself transfer funds; final approval by the full board and any required budget or accounting actions would follow.