County will transfer more funds for payroll
Two months into its new fiscal year, Fayette County has been able to avoid dipping into its capital improvement fund to make payroll. But that streak will end.
“Again, the news is not good,” county board Chairman Steve Knebel said about the county’s finances.
“We are at the borrowing stage two months into the (fiscal) year,” he said, noting that the county will likely be transferring money from the capital improvement fund in the near future.
In the past couple of years, Knebel said, the county board has approved such transfers from the fund, hoping to be able to later repay that fund.
“Has it ever got back in (that fund) at the end of the year? No,” Knebel said.
The capital improvement fund was established with the $5.5 million that the county received for its coal rights on about 160,000 acres.
At this point, the county has taken about $2 million out of that fund in order to meet payroll, due mainly to the state’s failure to make its tax payments and reimbursements to the county on a timely fashion.
Also at the meeting:
• County Clerk and Recorder Terri Braun announced that the cost per voter for the November 2012 general election was $4.87.
• The board approved the appointment of Steve Henna and Dale Timmermann to the Public Building Commission, and the re-appointment of Gene Daniels to the commission.
Knebel said there is still one open spot on the commission, and that he is accepting the names of nominees for that spot.
• The board approved an Illinois Department of Transportation agreement for the replacement of a bridge over Suck Creek about 4½ miles northwest of Brownstown.
The total project cost is $233,200, with the county’s share being $11,440.
• The board approved an IDOT agreement for the replacement of cross-road pipe culverts at 29 locations along the St. Peter blacktop.
The total cost is $770,000, with the federal government paying $560,000 and the state providing $210,000 in matching funds.
• The board approved an agreement with the Fayette County Health Department through which the FCHD will continue to provide a solid waste coordinator for the county.
The county will pay the health department $6,000 for the services.