Peoria County Veterans Assistance reports higher walk-ins, posts annual MVAT figures

Mike Brooks, representing the Peoria County Veterans Assistance Commission, presented the commission's annual report and several operational updates to the Ways and Means Committee.

Brooks introduced William Stodgill, the senior veterans service officer, and described service-volume and financial highlights. "In 2025, total money, we brought in a $145,000,000 compared to a 110,000,024," Brooks said while providing the commission's figures to the committee. He also said the office recorded 5,587 veterans who walked in during the year — an average he described as roughly 466 per month — and that the office recently posted an administrative position with about 45 applicants and plans to begin interviews.

Brooks said he will send the annual report to the county board chair and to committee members for review. He also noted an upcoming series of meetings related to Caswell (the superintendent announced retirement) and expressed interest in remaining involved in local veteran-support forums.

Committee members thanked Brooks for the report and asked clarifying questions about the walk-in timeframe (Brooks confirmed the count is "November to November" for the annual report).