Lee County finance committee reviews $238,000 pool assessment, finalizes ARPA administrative payout

The Lee County finance committee reported an unbudgeted pool assessment of roughly $238,000 and approved final administrative payments from American Rescue Plan Act funds so staff can complete federal reporting.

"$238,000 now is roughly" the assessment amount, the finance chair said during the committee update, and the committee voted to approve the administrative ARPA payout so final reports can be prepared. Committee members also described continuing pressures from higher Blue Cross Blue Shield costs.

Committee members said sales-tax and landfill revenues remain strong, which helps offset some costs, but the pool assessment and increased health-insurance expenses mean staff will monitor revenues closely. The committee also reported progress on the county's Tyler case-management system, with a planned data transfer next month and the system going live thereafter.

In executive-session discussion, the finance committee reviewed elected-official salaries and directed the county board chair, finance chair, administrator and state's attorney to develop salary-adjustment options for consideration by the finance committee next month.

The committee's update was delivered as part of the regular county-board meeting; no final salary adjustments were adopted at this session.