The Vermilion County Board passed their proposed $43.9 million budget Tuesday night. County Board Chairman Larry Baughn said it was a rather smooth year budget wise, which has been more the norm of late.
AUDIO: We’ve streamlined it here in the last several years. It takes about a three step process. It starts with my office, and the elected officials, and then Finance, and then full board. I think it’s something that department heads and elected officials have adjusted to well, a lot easier than some board members may remember from years back.
In other proceedings from Tuesday night, Central Illinois Land Bank Executive Director Mike Davis made his proposal to the full board, after speaking with the Finance Committee earlier this month, about setting up a Homeowner Occupied Rehab program with a $500,000 investment in COVID relief money from the County Board. The proposal will now be considered by the Finance Committee on December 1st, and could be voted on by the full County Board on December 14th. Baughn says, he feels it deserves consideration.
AUDIO: I think the land bank’s on to something here, because it’s something that’s going to touch the entire county, and not just one specific community. So I think moving forward we’ll be able to assess it with our Finance Committee, and see what we can do for the outlying areas.
One thing Davis mentioned about the rehab program is, it acts as a zero percent loan, and if the homeowners stay in their home for five years, allowing a much improved home to stay on the local tax roles, the loan is then forgiven.
AUDIO: Well it’s a great incentive. And I think the key is to work with my member communities, and the local board members to identify the right households. Because a lot of people, they want to stay in their communities and their neighborhoods. They might just need a little help with fixing the roof or fixing the porch.
Early in Tuesday evening’s County Board meeting, many local residents spoke about wanting Vermilion County to become the next Illinois county to be a Second Amendment sanctuary county, meaning the local authorities would be allowed to set their own laws when it comes to gun control, despite what state or federal gun control laws might be. Baughn says, they’ve been busy with the budget, but there will be talks with this group soon.
AUDIO: We were just knee deep in the budget season, trying to get together a $44 million budget. They’ve been very patient with us, and it’s something that we’ll just have to assess and look over. I know they said that 67 other counties have adopted the same resolution.
Baughn says the Vermilion County Board did adopt a resolution regarding the right to bear arms ten years ago. One of the speakers Tuesday night mentioned it, saying it was poorly written, and that becoming a sanctuary county is necessary.
