Matthew T Berger

Key discussion points for the meeting included voting on the approval or amendment of the current agenda and the draft minutes from the December 2025 meeting. The commission will discuss scheduling updated training on OPEN MEETINGS certification for members, as four of the five members had completed it by the end of 2025. Old business involved confirming the temporary schedule change for regular monthly meetings in January, February, and March 2026 (meeting on the second Monday). New business requires the nomination and vote for the Vice Chair of the Merit Commission. The commission will also review the Budget Performance Report and Accumulated Transaction Listings as of the end of December 2025.

The committee reviewed input from the Mental Health Advisory Board (MHAB) regarding behavioral health services in McLean County, emphasizing improving equitable access, reducing barriers, enhancing coordination, and ensuring timely, inclusive, and coordinated crisis response across providers and community partners. The committee approved recommendations for funding several programs for CY26, including The Baby Fold -- Healthy Start, PATH -- Suicide and Crisis Puppet Show, Project Oz -- Mental Health Education for Youth and Families, The Center for Youth and Family Solutions -- Counseling Outreach for Vulnerable Populations, Integrity Counseling, Inc. -- Counseling the Uninsured and Underinsured, and McLean County Center for Human Services -- Psychiatric Services. During the funding approval process, the Committee posed questions for follow-up regarding several agencies' CY26 renewal applications, including program intake processes and outcomes, budget context and operational impacts, service locations and planned activities, and partner selection processes.

The Finance Committee meeting addressed several key financial matters. These included a resolution amending the funded full-time equivalent positions for the Assessment Office, and a resolution authorizing the County Board Chair to assign Mobile Home Tax Sale Certificates of Purchase. The committee also reviewed and accepted the County Treasurer's Monthly Financial Reports, which included discussions on tax revenue, property tax bills, and investment reports. Agreements for Animal Control Shelter Services and Warden Services with the City of Bloomington were approved. Additionally, the committee approved a Class C Raffle License, a resolution amending the Funded-Full Time Equivalent Positions Resolution for the Highway Department, and a resolution establishing the Budget Policy for Fiscal Year 2026, along with its preparation calendar. Lastly, the committee approved a resolution authorizing the Trustee to conduct the sale of real property held in trust and Administration Salary Adjustments in the Sheriff's Department.

The committee discussed and approved various budget recommendations for the fiscal year 2026, including those for the Coroner Department, Children's Advocacy Center, Circuit Clerk Department, Metro McLean County Centralized Communications Center, Public Defender Department, Circuit Court Department, Jury Commission Department, Sheriff Department, Merit Board Department, State's Attorney Department, and Court Services Department. Other topics included a grant agreement with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, an agreement addendum with the Center for Human Services for peer support specialist services, an emergency appropriation ordinance amending the county's fiscal year budget, a special attorney contract for specialty courts, and a proposal for Prairie State Legal Services to provide services for the Eviction Mediation Clinic.

The meeting included discussion and placement on file of minutes from the previous meeting. Hearings for several docket numbers were cancelled. There were no public comments, complaints for preliminary review, or other business presented.