Thinking prudently | Daily Chronicle

And where is Boone County—not thinking at all?

The [DeKalb] county board is considering making DeKalb County a “recovery zone,” another program of the stimulus package that would bring $15 million in a different kind of low-interest bonds to the county.

Taxpayers are understandably hesitant to embrace borrowing by local governments. In appearances alone, spending millions during a recession is a tough case to make. But it could also be the financially prudent thing to do, and for that reason local governments should strongly consider using these programs

Click on the following for the entire editorial:  Thinking prudently | Daily Chronicle

McDonald's bringing Dollar Menu to breakfast - Chicago Breaking News

Here is what will be a buck in many cities: 

sausage McMuffin, a sausage biscuit and two hotcakes.

Click here for the rest of the story:  McDonald's bringing Dollar Menu to breakfast - Chicago Breaking News

Woodward to sell Rockton facility to Chemtool-- WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

Chemtool purchases building rather than builds in Rockton.

Woodward Governor has announced its plans to sell its Rockton facility to Chemtool Incorporated.

Woodward employees told 13 News they heard about the probable sale earlier in the day on Wednesday. Woodward confirmed the news around 4:00 p.m.

"We are pleased to have located such a beautiful facility for our new corporate headquarters," said James Athans, Chairman, Chemtool Incorporated.

Click on the following for more details:  Woodward to sell Rockton facility - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

Daily Herald | Kane County court system looks to salaries to cut budget

Court cost are skyrocketing and at least one court is trying to contain costs.

Chief Judge F. Keith Brown announced Tuesday that his employees will take five unpaid holidays for the remainder of this year to help get his budget to the 5.5 percent reduction mandated by the county board.

Adding to the budget debacle for 2010 will be a 35 percent reduction in state funding for court services, including the various forms of probation. That will result in the loss of about $914,000

on the horizon are the additional costs of treating 17-year-olds convicted of a misdemeanor as juveniles and housing then in the juvenile detention center

Daily Herald | Kane County court system looks to salaries to cut budget

Daily Herald | DuPage County hires 4 lobbying firms

 

lobbyists were responsible for a variety of accomplishments, including securing nearly $1 million for stormwater assistance, $1.2 million in state funding for capital improvement projects, and a $24,000 state grant for jail lighting improvements

Daily Herald | DuPage County hires 4 lobbying firms

Genoa to consider cutting fees | Daily Chronicle

Genoa Park District and School District consider lowering impact fees to jump start new construction 

the park board is willing to reduce its fees by 50 percent through the end of 2010

Our need for EAV outweighs our need for impact fees," Wakeley said. "The temporary loss of impact fees is not as great because it's not a housing boom that will require buying land and building new schools."

Lots in the Oak Creek Estates subdivision are selling for half the price they were two years ago, Hoffman said, and he estimated building costs are down 25 percent. He's hoping the reduction in impact fees might be the nudge someone considering building a new home needs to build it sooner rather than later. When the agreement expires at the end of next year, hopefully building will have resumed a more normal pace, he said.

Click on the following for more details of the story:  Genoa to consider cutting fees | Daily Chronicle

Governments attracted to lower borrowing costs of stimulus bond programs | Daily Chronicle

Well Boone County it sure sounds like the days of revenue from DeKalb County prisoners is limited.  Or at least that is what the DeKalb County Administrator seems to be  saying.

DeKalb County was allocated $15 million in Recovery Zone Bonds that it can issue. Of that, $6 million can be used for public projects and $9 million can be used on privately owned buildings.
County officials are planning to use the recovery bonds to expand the jail and courthouse. Though funding options for both buildings have been studied for about a year, the announcement of the stimulus bond programs really brought the projects into focus, County Administrator Ray Bockman said.

Governments attracted to lower borrowing costs of stimulus bond programs | Daily Chronicle