Housing Commission

After the McHenry County Board was presented with the Heartland Alliance Study regarding the lack of affordable housing in McHenry County and in the middle of the worst housing crisis in McHenry County, a few board members and I initiated and lead an effort to bring solutions to a looming problem in the county. After only 13 months, this morning at the McHenry County Board Meeting, the ordinance to adopt and implement the McHenry County Housing Commission was approved (01-05-10)! The purpose of the Housing Commission is to promote and plan for housing and mixed-income developments that meet community and County needs while also addressing broader regional sensible growth goals, and to advocate for the increase of affordable housing throughout McHenry County by educating the general public, elected and appointed officials, housing providers, and other interest groups regarding affordable housing issues. In addition, the commission will support, develop and promote programs, policies and resources that serve to further the availability of sensible growth and affordable housing countywide. The commission will provide an expert resource on sensible growth and affordable housing for McHenry County. It will further housing goals related to HUD programming as outlined by the Consolidated Plan and related action plans. Also important to mention, the commission will work with local private sector entities to establish and implement the Commission’s goals and objectives.

An Ad-Hoc Committee was formed by the County and local entities to address current housing issues including foreclosures and the lack of affordable units in light of the economic downturn. As such, the McHenry County Board adopted a Resolution (R-200909-10-262) supporting the formation of a Housing Commission. The Ad-Hoc Committee, also known as the Housing Committee, continued to meet to outline the purposes and goals of such a commission, and potential activities to increase the capacity for mixed-income development, housing policies and procedures, and planning and education initiatives for housing in McHenry County. The Commission is seeking approval for an initial two-year period of proceedings, at which time the work of the Commission and subsequent action plans will be evaluated by the Planning and Development Committee and McHenry County Board for consideration of renewal as an official commission body. Impact on Human Resources: The establishment and execution of the Housing Commission will require the assistance of one (1) staff person of the Planning and Development Department to be funded through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Administration. Impact of Budget (Revenue, Expenses, Fringe Benefits): Approval of the Housing Commission as a County entity will have no initial impact on County funds as the Commission will be funded through Community Development Block Grant Administration in accordance with approved HUD activities. As such, the County may wish to supplement activities of the Commission in the future, but this would not be a requirement for functionality. The Housing Commission would serve in an advisory capacity to the CDBG Commission. (Detailed information provided by the agenda item 15.2.A, January 5, 2010)

 

Video Gambling and the State Capital Plan

I have taken a very strong position against the video gambling component of Illinois’ $31 Billion Capital Plan. I fully understand the potential effects of video gambling to our county. I have read the studies that state that gambling actually increases cost for government services, in some studies 3:1 and in others, 5:1. I am in complete agreement that the hope for increasing revenue for both the bar owner and the government taxing bodies is both short-sighted and dubious.

Further, I am infuriated that during such terrible economic times, the state brings forth a Capital Plan paid for on the backs of its citizens and businesses who already are desperate. Video gambling is perhaps the worst option provided in the Plan because it is a regressive tax on the most vulnerable, the poor. It is a desperate attempt to tax non-productive activities. The State of Illinois is gambling on the losses of its citizens and I find that despicable.

The other 2/3 of the plan is based on higher taxes on product and goods, as well as fee increases. Where is this surplus money? There is none. People are hopeful that this Capital Plan will bring jobs and economic stimulus. However, this is text book material, Economics 101, if you will. Over and over again it is proven that if you want to have real economic recovery, cut spending, decrease taxes, and provide incentives.

 

Most importantly, the state has to cut spending. This Capital Plan is an excuse for the state to continue its reckless spending. The video gambling conversation, as far as I am concerned, is a red herring. While we are debating gaming, the state increased our fees and raised taxes. The State of Illinois needs to provide true options for job creation and economic recovery and stop the reckless spending. Before that can be achieved, however, Illinois will need to restore faith in our state government.

 

Economic Times

Our greatest challenge in the county today is the hard economic times. Unemployment has been above 9% for months, the number of foreclosures and bankruptcies are at an all time high and growth and building are at an all time low.

As revenue to the county’s general fund is decreasing, the county needs to continue to provide services. As a county board member, I have promoted and supported fiscally responsible initiatives. Knowing the economy was going to take a turn for the worse, administrative staff continually reminded our board to “put on the breaks” when spending tax dollars. Put on the breaks we did, with the support of all the department heads, elected and appointed, the county board received nearly $1.2 million back to the general fund from their department budgets. In addition, the county board recently self-funded the county’s insurance program. This change saved the county over $1,000,000 in the last year alone.

As a board member, I have also supported and promoted initiatives that provide more competitive bidding, more efficient utilities management , and have frozen over two dozen positions. With reduced governmental revenues projected for 2010 and with the cooperation of all departments, the McHenry County Board has submitted a balanced budget with less than a 2% increase. In these dubious economic times, our county is in excellent health, while continuing to provide quality service.

2030 Plan

The 2030 Plan is the compilation of the hard work of dedicated volunteers for the past 3 years. It is as one member of the public described “a sincere effort” for balance of growth and sustainability. The text chapters, especially the Water Resources, Open Space and Agriculture Chapters, are very well researched and strongly supported by studies, maps, charts, etc. It is clear that the commission was cognoscente of the importance of respecting municipal and township plans, and promotes growth in and around municipalities.

Where the plan falls short, I believe, is in the inconsistencies from well drafted policies in the text to the Future Land Use Map. As an example, Policy Statement 2 in the Agriculture Chapter states, “Protect Land best suited for farming…” In many cases, the draft map does, but in some areas, it falls short. The most obvious area is in Coral Township, west and north of Union, where prime farmland is designated Residential. Another example is in the text of the Water Resource Chapter providing policies to protect sensitive recharge areas and avoid development in hydric soils. There are nearly 1800 acres north of Bull Valley, east of Woodstock and adjacent to Greenwood that is planned for Estate that is Prime Farmland, Hydric Soils and Sensitive Recharge. At the moment, the Future Land Use Map is a draft. These are a few examples of where the 2030 Plan should be adjusted and why. The County Board will continue the review and make amendments if necessary, as the process continues.

 

Valley Hi

My first involvement in county politics started as a volunteer on the Valley Hi Referendum Committee. I felt it was absolutely necessary for McHenry to continue to provide quality care for the people most in need at the end of their life. I was encouraged by the overwhelming results of the referendum. The public was willing to support Valley Hi and its mission.

Once on the board, I realized how deeply in debt the facility was. There were a couple of obvious drains on the operational budget. Prior to Revere Management, the Medicare/Medicaid patient ratio was minimal. Valley Hi provided beds and services to mainly Medicaid patient, as promised within its mission statement. However, establishing a payer mix that balances the cost vs. payment was a necessary change to support the facility. While remaining true to the mission, Revere certified all the 127 beds for Medicare. Currently, there are 10 Medicare patients with a goal of 20. Obviously the reimbursement from Medicare vs. Medicaid is substantial and the change has been a relief to their operational budget.
Another accomplished goal of Revere Management was the eventual elimination of agency nursing. The cost to Valley Hi to bring in nursing temps could be 4x the amount they paid staff. More importantly, however, the care was never as good as the regular nursing staff. The need for Agency staff was a drain on an already strained personnel budget. As of October, Valley Hi has not used any agency nurses. Clearly this is a huge saving and Revere should be commended for this remarkable financial saving without decreasing quality care.

Knowing the current financial strengths, I do believe the Valley Hi management is ready to re-assume full managerial control the operations of the facility. Admittedly, within the last two and half years, great progress has been made with the training, cooperation and collaboration between staff and the management firm. With confidence, I believe the county can continue on the proper path.