County board raises video‑gaming pass‑through to cover 2‑1‑1 software costs

The Financial and Administrative Committee approved a resolution Sept. 4 amending the county’s video‑gaming revenue (VGR) policy to increase the amount allocated to community development and to raise the annual set‑aside for Lake County 2‑1‑1, staff said.

Dominic Strazo, community development administrator, described two principal changes in the proposed amendment (agenda item 8.26). First, the policy’s top‑line allocation available to community development for pass‑through grants would increase from $800,000 to $825,000. Second, the portion earmarked annually for Lake County 2‑1‑1 would increase from $125,000 to $150,000 to cover higher software costs: Strazo said the resource‑directory module used by 2‑1‑1 is being sunsetted by its vendor and the replacement product carries a higher annual cost plus a one‑time implementation fee.

Strazo also proposed fixing the community‑development administrative allocation at $47,500 rather than leaving it to be set annually in the budget process; staff explained the figure was derived from a methodology that removes certain set‑asides and takes 10% of the remaining balance. Committee members supported the change and praised Lake County 2‑1‑1’s statewide role as justification for the increased set‑aside. The resolution (item 8.26) passed on the committee’s voice vote with no recorded opposition.