Boone County Watchdog: Food permits still free for nonprofits in Boone County - News - Rockford Register Star

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Food permits still free for nonprofits in Boone County - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Ben Stanley

Posted Sep. 22, 2015 at 3:07 PM

BELVIDERE — Food permits will remain free for nonprofit groups in Boone County.

The County Board voted down an ordinance on Sept. 16, that would make nonprofits pay 50 percent of the permit fee normally charged to organizations that wish to serve food at fundraisers and events.

“Justice prevails," said Marion Thornberry, legislative director of the Illinois State Grange and moderator for St. John's United Church of Christ in Belvidere. "The nonprofit people in Boone County, they represent things that the counties, the states the countries need and never provide ... so to say we have to pay for (food permits), when we’re already providing (services) is ludicrous."

For years the Boone County Health Department has waived food-permit charges for nonprofits. Health Department officials say Boone is one of only two counties in the state that does not charge nonprofits for food permits.

The new measure would have charged nonprofits, on average, $108 for an annual food permit. The maximum price the Health Department could have charged a nonprofit group for a food permit had the ordinance passed is $225.

Department officials estimated the ordinance would have generated $9,000 a year. The Health Department receives tax money and government grants to operate each year, but it has been losing revenue. In its fiscal 2015 budget, the department is projected to expend nearly $60,000 more than it will collect.

"It was kind of painful, but I certainly understand their point," said Health Department Administrator Cindy Frank. "(The vote) didn't come as a big surprise ... I’m sure the health department will probably try it again if the makeup of the board changes over time. It kind of depends on how things go."

Ben Stanley: 815-987-1369; bstanley@rrstar.com; @ben_j_stanley