Kane County forest preserves slate two projects

A new Kane County Forest Preserve District budget unveiled Thursday contains two major projects for fans of the preserves and a balanced bottom line for taxpayers.

The two big capital projects include a $1.8 million plan to create 100 campsites at Big Rock Forest Preserve. The district received a $750,000 grant to acquire 250 acres of land adjacent to the preserve that will allow the campsites, roads, parking, restrooms and picnic areas to exist without disturbing the natural Big Rock Forest Preserve habitat. District employees hope to cut the cost of the project down by receiving up to $600,000 in state grants.

The other project is a $1.5 million transformation of the Creek Bend Facility at the LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles into an education center. The center will become the base for the district’s travel naturalist program. Like the campsite site project, district staff applied for a grant that would provide $1 million of the funding if approved.

Executive Director Monica Meyers said the projects would only move forward if the grants are received. If the grants don’t come through, staff would come back to commissioners to decide the next step.

In terms of overall finances, the $6.6 million proposed budget for the general fund, the district’s main account, includes money for a 2 percent raise for staff. Payroll accounts for about 60 percent of the general fund budget. Last year, employees received raises, on average, of less than 2 percent. The total budget request also includes $33,000 for conferences and meetings, a 10 percent increase over last year, and $17,500 for employee recognition.

“In my mind this is a lean budget,” Meyers said. “It is a balanced budget.”

District President John Hoscheit said the key to a lean budget is all the volunteer hours put into the preserves, as well as employing a competent staff.

“The district is sound financially,” Hoscheit said. “We get a lot out of a few people.”

The district also plans to sell the bonds for the $30 million tax increase voters approved sometime in June. The proposed budget reflects more than $27 million in buying power to acquire new property. The commission will approve a final overall budget in July.