Local News

County Board Urges State to Continue Funding LGDF

Mon, 15 May 2017 08:53:53 CDT

An amendment to an Illinois Senate Bill that was proposed by a Senator from Vandalia was discussed during the Montgomery County Board meeting last Tuesday.

Senator Kyle McCarter has proposed an amendment to Senate Bill 2199, which seeks to reduce the Local Government Distributive Fund by 25 percent. According to Finance Committee Chairman Megan Beeler, if the amendment is approved and the bill passes, the County would lose $538,500 in total revenue for the fiscal year. That includes money collected from sales tax, supplemented sales tax, and income tax.

Board member Glenn Bishop asked Beeler if the reduction would extend beyond the county and include local governments, to which Beeler replied that it would. A motion was made to approve a resolution urging Governor Bruce Rauner and the General Assembly to protect full funding of Local Government Distributive Fund revenues, and the motion passed with 18 'yes' votes, zero voting 'no', and 3 board members absent.

Economic Development Committee Chairman Tim Hopper updated the board on the efforts to bring fiber optic internet service to the county.

Hopper explained that the Taylorville company CTI is interested in expanding to Montgomery County, as well as other surrounding areas. He and other MCEDC members have had discussions with local businesses about their internet service, and some companies have cited it as a reason for possibly leaving the county.

Hopper said it's scary that businesses are considering moving their offices out of the county because of poor internet service, and that bringing fiber to Montgomery County is one of the most important infrastructure items the board has addressed.

During the Finance Committee briefing of the meeting, the board approved the transfer of $6000 from coal money to the MCEDC in order to advertise for fiber optic internet service.

Hopper also briefed the board on the CEO program. He mentioned that this year's students had grossed $10,000 from their high school businesses at the trade show May 2, and that 17 students have been accepted for next year's class.

The next Montgomery County Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 13, at 8:30 a.m. on the second floor of the Historic Courthouse in Hillsboro.