Should Local Government Follow the White House?

 

See this breaking news:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28767687

 

 

If President Obama froze the salaries of all White House employees making over $100,000, do you think our local governments and school districts should follow the lead of the President?

Pat Mattison wants the word out about how bad the revenue situation is at the county

 

Patrick Mattison, Republican, District 3, believes that the size of  the projected shortfall at the county is being underestimated.  The $300,000 deficit is more on the order of $800,000.  Here is his presentation based upon the county’s most recent figures:

Boone County Boone County Sales Tax	Boone County Projected Tax Revenues FY 2009—per budget	Revenue Shortfall  Basis: January 2009, Collection Potential Annual Revenue Loss
1 cent unincorporated	$  911,960.79	$  107,821.44
1/4 cent county wide	$1,041,729.82	$    98,452.29
Sales Tax 1/2 cent	$1,644,757.00	$    80,916.53
Boone County Personal Property Replacement Tax	$  567.408.00	$    31986.86
State Income Tax	$1,887,848.00	$ 484,526.17

TOTALS

$6,053,703.61

$803,703.29

Going by collections reported for January , 2009, the County shortfall will be approximately $804,000 for the year.  The potential short for the year based on these figures is 13.28 %.  It could be worse if the economy worsens.

What are the Boone County Board's plans if this happens?

Pat M.

 

See the other posting from January 21 for the Rockford Register Star’s take on the deficit.

Boone County Looks at Deficit Spending

The “maybe” deficit is becoming real for the Boone County Board.  See this article from the Register Star:  www.rrstar.com/boone/x1621254117/Boone-officials-expect-budget-shortfall

Note the comments, I am Bill Blank.

What is the Economic Stimulus Package

The fight is on—everyone has an idea how to get things going again in this country.  How can we possibly keep up. One source that is keeping track of the raw proposals is:  http://www.ncsl.org/statefed/2009economicstimulus.htm

When you get a chance take a look.  For history buffs we may be doing an reenactment/update of FDR’s First Hundred Days.  It will be difficult to hear, see or know what is being proposed, passed and really implemented.  Good Luck.

Update on the Sewer Grant

I just found out that Maple Crest Nursing Home is on the tax rolls.  It is assessed at $747,162.  One acre of land and the buildings are taxed, the other 24 acres is considered exempt since it is used by the county.  The tax ID number is 05-14-100-015. The following indicates the taxes paid since 2002:

2008	$45,168.18
2007	$46947.92
2006	$31,506.14
2005	$30,883.72
2004	$29,861.96
2003	$30,959.68
2002	$46,973.58

I am somewhat unclear if the county will continue to use any of the land if the assisted living facility is approved.  That facility will use only 8 acres according to Kevin Haas article in the Register Star which I posted on January 14.

Register Star’s take on the Phoenix Project (Assisted Living Apartments at Maple Crest)

Assisted-living center would be a Belvidere first

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By Kevin Haas

RRSTAR.COM

Posted Jan 14, 2009 @ 12:21 AM

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BELVIDERE —

A developer’s plan for what would be Boone County’s first assisted-living facility may hinge on the city’s receipt of a hefty state grant.
Belvidere will ask the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for $600,000 to construct new water and sewer lines for the proposed center.
Water and sewer lines would be stretched from Belvidere North High School to the proposed site for the senior living facility — 7 acres owned by the county near the intersection of Squaw Prairie Road and U.S. Route 76.
The land would be leased to the owners and operators of the facility, a partnership of private groups led by The Kensington Group, which operates the next-door nursing home, Maple Crest Care Center, said County Administrator Ken Terrinoni said.
The 120 units of Glen at Belvidere would be the county’s first supportive-living center, providing affordable housing to the elderly.
“This is definitely an underserved area,” said Steve Horve, owner of Horve Builders of Forsyth, the developer and a partner in the project. “There are nursing homes, but there is not a single, affordable assisted-living center in Boone County.”
The Belvidere City Council meets Monday to consider approval of the state grant application.
The Glen at Belvidere is anticipated to create about 45 jobs. It will be managed by Blair Minton and Associates, which manages more than 25 assisted-living facilities in Illinois, Horve said.
The project is estimated to cost $21.7 million. The facility will accommodate elderly residents receiving public aid as well as private-pay residents.
“There are very few assisted livings that accept Medicaid patients,” said John Slattengren, executive director of the Boone County Council on Aging. “We think that it would make a great asset because there are people in this community who are in between. They don’t need a nursing home, but can’t live in house or apartment and afford the private care.”
Developers hope construction starts this spring and concludes in Summer 2010.
Staff writer Kevin Haas can be reached at 815-544-3452 or khaas@rrstar.com.

Mystery Grant is actually a Phoenix

I attended Monday’s (1-12-2009) public hearing regarding the grant application for sewer connection to the county’s Maple Crest nursing home and proposed assisted living center.  It was very interesting because I discovered a few facts that I wish the administration/politicians would  have revealed before.

First this is really not a new grant application, but rather a resubmission because the application in 2007 was rejected for “incompleteness”.  When I get a chance I hope to go to the courthouse and review the old application and the rejection notice, then I can speak with more confidence regarding this matter of why the reapplication.

The actual developer for the assisted living project is Horve Builders from the Decatur, Illinois area.  I talked to Steve Horve, the owner, and he answered many of the questions which until now were unanswered. (1) The assisted living facility would be on the real estate rolls.  The facilities would be owned by a for-profit corporation, possibly an affiliate of his own company.  (2)The company wants a 99 year lease for the property because in doing so the land cost can be amortized. (if they purchased actual land they would probably sell the land to a third party to achieve this financial advantage) (3)  Usually the units rent for approximately $2,700 per month (including nursing assistance), with financial assistance from the government that cost could be as low as $570 per month.  One of the real positives of the facility is that if an individual’s resources run out there would be smooth transition to government assistance without the need to change facilities.

Below is a handout which Ms. Tobin gave the aldermen which provides a synopsis of the grant.  Click on it to make it more readable.