Kane Co. to push state for lawsuit fee, juror pay relief
Kane County may already have a solution in the works for a looming $100,000 budget hole stemming from an unexpected, state-mandated increase in juror pay, one of several issues for which the county is seeking help from state lawmakers.
The board's legislative committee set its lobbying priorities for the year on Wednesday.
The county does not employ a full-time lobbyist in Springfield, which leaves board members and Chairman Chris Lauzen to rub elbows with local representatives.
That will begin with supporting a new bill introduced just last week that would reverse the state-mandated increase in juror pay.
State law currently requires counties the size of Kane and larger to pay jurors $25 for the first day of service and $50 for every day thereafter beginning June 1.
A pending bill would impose the increase only on counties that determine their court budgets can handle the expense.
The raise would cause about $255,000 in additional jury expenses in 2016, the first full year of implementation.
Kane County officials will also lobby for legislation that transfers at least part of the $87 million estimated cost to expand the county courthouse away from all taxpayers and onto courthouse users.
County officials want the authority to add a fee on all lawsuits of up to $30, which would be put aside for the courthouse construction. Will County recently sought a similar fee.
"This board has made it very clear that we don't want to raise taxes," committee Chairman Brian Pollock said. "If we can find opportunities to do things that just affect the people using the facilities, that's a better option."
Officials are also eyeing a better option for waste disposal.
A company recently came to Kane County pitching the idea of a waste-to-fuel facility for the former Settler's Hill landfill. The process compresses trash into a fuel pellet that burns cleaner than most coal produced in the United States.
The company needed the state to pass legislation approving the technique, however, former Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed it.
Kane County officials are hoping it sees new life under Gov. Bruce Rauner.
"The law in Illinois is garbage is always garbage, and it's always bad," said Lauzen. "What this company wants to do is dramatically reduce the need for landfills so you don't have the mounds of collected garbage."
Pollock said the plan would also create a new income stream for the county and create jobs for local residents. The latter would be a big selling point for state lawmakers.