LaSalle County committee approves Central Services budget package, flags postage rise and new machines

Chair Kathy Owens opened the LaSalle County IT and Central Services Committee meeting at 11:00 a.m. on July 2 and led a roll call of members present before turning to Central Services for its monthly report.

Tracy of Central Services presented June activity and cost figures, reporting 32,812 microfilm documents, 1,150 feet processed, 29,525 scanned images and combined copy/printer usage counts; Central Services billed $22,981.50 for the month and reported reimbursements to the general fund of $3,152.17. Tracy said, “We have a total of $523.52 in savings for June,” attributed to lower certified-mail and shipping-label expenses.

Tracy also warned of a U.S. Postal Service rate increase taking effect July 12, noting, “Regular stamps are going to be 82 cents. Our metered stamps are going to be 78 cents,” and described the per-ounce metered surcharge that will apply. She announced purchases of two new copy machines—one for Probation (about $6,700–$6,762) and a unit for the Coroner’s Office ($2,942.86)—to be installed that month.

On the FY2027 budget, Tracy walked through several line items: maintenance contracts (line 502007) initially proposed at $36,000, postage increased to $110 per account to allow for midyear USPS adjustments, election postage set at $80,000 to cover voter ID mailings and potential vote-by-mail costs, the assessment office mailing budget at $25,000 for its quad-year cycle, and treasurer-related postage for property taxes and delinquents estimated at $65,000. Lease costs were shown at $14,500 after a $1,000 increase to cover two new mail machines.

Committee members questioned whether the maintenance/contracts line could be trimmed. After discussion—during which Tracy said one vendor’s camera contract had already come down—members agreed to reduce the maintenance/contracts allocation from $36,000 to $30,000.

The committee then moved to accept the Central Services FY2027 budget as adjusted and forward it to the county finance office; the motion was seconded and members voted in favor. The transcript does not specify who made the motion by name; members gave verbal assent and the chair confirmed the motion passed. The committee also approved Central Services bills (moved by Nancy, seconded by Carol) and accepted the departmental report (moved by Nancy, seconded by Brian); members voted in favor on both items and signatures were circulated for the report.

The committee closed Central Services business by wishing colleagues a safe Fourth of July weekend and moving on to the IT agenda.

What happens next: The committee forwarded the approved budget to the finance office for its review and further action; the transcript does not record any schedule or date for finance’s consideration.