Kane to hand out $1.2M in riverboat
Requests for a share of Kane County's portion of riverboat gambling profits will far outpace the actual money the county will receive this year.
The county received more than 70 requests by local not-for-profit groups, schools and government agencies to use the money for construction projects or to help with basic operating costs this year. All told, local groups are clamoring for $3.3 million in requests.
The harsh reality is the county only has about $1 million to hand out, plus about $145,000 in riverboat money handled out to projects last year that never materialized. So far, the county is only on track to fund 45 of those requests. Most of the money handed out will be less than the community groups requested.
“The amount of money that the county receives from the riverboat fund is directly related to the gambling proceeds,” said county board member John Hoscheit. “Over the years, that amount has decreased fairly substantially. Still, we've been able to fund hundreds of great projects for the county. In making our decisions it's hard to say one charitable organization's cause is better than another. So we've tried to spread the money around to various causes over the years.”
That said, there are some groups that traditionally always receive riverboat funds. The University of Illinois Cooperative Extension relies on the riverboat money for a fair share of its operating costs now that state funding for the extension is nearly extinct.
CASA of Kane County, which serves as an advocate for neglected and abused children in the court system, also typically receives a large grant. The Kane County State's Attorney's office is currently pitching a new court fee that would apply to traffic tickets and other violations that would also help CASA's funding.
For other projects, the county generally limits the groups it will fund based on the ability of the project to spur economic development, improve the environment or support education.
A subcommittee of county board members approved a preliminary list of grants that actually are $48,000 more than the riverboat profits dedicated to these programs allow for. County staff will see if the reserve fund of the riverboat profits can accommodate the overflow requests before the full county board votes on the grants.
Top 10 riverboat grant recipients
<B>Hesed House:</B> $100,000 for heating, ventilation and air conditioning improvements to address tuberculosis outbreak
Community Foundation of Fox River Valley: $100,000 to support Fit for Kids initiative
<B>U of I Cooperative Extension:</B> $95,000 to support the program
<B>Heritage YMCA:</B> $56,000 for building renovations
<B>Preservation Partners of Fox Valley:</B> $50,000 for a climate control system
<B>CASA of Kane County:</B> $50,000 for program support
<B>Visiting Nurses Association:</B> $50,000 to equip a dental clinic, lab
<B>Lily Lake:</B> $50,000 to create a neighborhood park
<B>Feeding Greater Elgin:</B> $50,000 for freezer/coolers and equipment
<B>Fox River Study Group:</B> $40,000 for water quality models