Board debates whether to use iFiber proceeds to shore up insurance trust or fund county projects

LaSalle County board members discussed options for deploying roughly $9.1 million in proceeds from the iFiber sale on April 20, weighing a proposal from the insurance trust’s actuarial analysis to deposit up to $15 million into the trust against alternate uses such as paying down bonds early or funding tangible county projects.

Finance speakers explained the actuarial recommendation to increase trust funding so the trust can cover liabilities through the early 2030s. Several board members expressed concern that issuing new bonds to fund the trust would cost more in interest than the county earns on invested proceeds, and the board debated using a sizable portion of the iFiber money to reduce the county’s debtservicing costs instead.

Several members urged that a majority of the proceeds be used to reinforce the insurance trust to avoid recurring bond issuance and taxpayer pressure, while others argued for a mixed approach that leaves funds for capital projects such as an upgraded health department or student homelessness interventions. Committee members discussed a phased approach and monitoring the trust rather than immediately committing the entire amount. The board asked finance staff to draft options that preserve flexibility while addressing the actuarial recommendations and to return to the board with a proposed timetable for any transfers or bond payoffs.