Kane County budget deficit a matter of perspective?

Two weeks ago Kane County Circuit Court Clerk Deb Seyller said her budget is on target, but a new report showed the target is a $550,000 projected deficit.

County Finance Director Cheryl Pattelli told the county board's Finance Committee Wednesday Seyller's budget is the only trouble spot she sees in the county.

“I have sent out, I believe, two letters to her at this point,” Pattelli said. “I have not heard anything back.”

In a recent interview with the Daily Herald, Seyller said she was aware of Pattelli's letters but didn't know why she was receiving them. The reason may be the county's legal battles with Seyller, Finance Committee Chairman Jim Mitchell said. Seyller sued the county in September after the board denied her request to go over her budget by $555,000 for this year.

Seyller's budget deficit may only be a matter of perspective, Mitchell said.

“(It depends) on the outcome of the lawsuit and a decision that allows her to use the special funds in her office,” Mitchell said. “If all the money for her office comes out of the general fund, then she is short. If it doesn't, then there won't be a shortfall. That's basically what she told me.”

The lawsuit is not over but two courts have now ruled Seyller does have the ability to pay some staff salaries with special funds her office collects via court and filing fees. However, Pattelli said Seyller has not increased her use of the special funds to date, creating essentially the same budget debacle as last year. That debate centered on employees Seyller said she needed to run her department. The hirings didn't get prior approval from the county board so no additional money followed to support the salaries of the new hires.

Finance Committee member Cathy Hurlbut said Seyller's refusal to use the funds indicates to her the problem is not a staffing issue but where the money is coming from to pay the staff. However, previous information showed extensive use of the special funds would eventually cause the accounts to run dry.

Seyller did not immediately respond to an interview request Wednesday. Seyller said in the past she wouldn't use the special funds because she thought using the funds as the county board wants her to is possibly illegal and she feared being held liable out of her own pocket for use of the money if a lawsuit resulted.

The lawsuit between her and the county is back in court April 20.