Randall Knapp is the new McLean County Board members for Normal’s District 5, after the board on Thursday approved his appointment on a 17-2 vote.
Knapp was seated after the vote. He replaces longtime board member John McIntyre, who until September served as board chair. The Republican stepped down last month due to health issues; board rules required a fellow party member fill his seat.
All of the board’s Republicans voted in favor of Knapp’s appointment, recommended by new chair Catherine Metsker. But two of the board’s 10 Democrats voted “no” — Beverly Bell (District 6) and Corey Beirne (District 10).
Also at the meeting, the board OK’d using $1.2 million to replace boilers at three county buildings; approved a matching funds initiative of $850,000 to resurface a section of Colfax Road; and held a public hearing on a proposed tax levy increase.
The board will vote next month to adopt the levy, which includes about $5.7 million or 11% more than last year's levied amount. The board votes on its proposed $146.7 million FY2024 budget at that time.
Newest member says he’s ‘ready to serve’
After Thursday's meeting, Metsker (R-District 1) told WGLT that Knapp’s strengths include being a longtime community member who is a quiet, thoughtful person. She said the newest board member also brings a good business and analytical background to the position.
She interviewed Knapp, along with three other candidates: Chad Berck, David Blumenshine and Cathy Woods. The four made pitches for the seat during last week’s executive committee meeting.
“It was a very challenging decision, but I chose the individual that I felt exemplifies chairman McIntyre best — with the skills and the qualities that he brought. That is not saying that the other candidates are not capable. In fact, we had an amazing group — but, two in particular.”
Metsker said Knapp and Woods both got second interviews.
Knapp told WGLT he was humbled to earn the appointment, and he is ready to work.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to be selected. The other candidates were very well qualified. I’m glad I was chosen,” he said, adding, “As far as moving forward, I’m looking forward to serving my constituents.”
Knapp said focusing on the mental health issues in McLean County is his priority. He works in sales at Old Dominion Freight Line in Decatur.
Before voting against Knapp’s appointment, Beirne (D-District 10) said he thought Knapp was a good candidate, but felt Woods was a highly qualified woman getting passed over. Woods had more relevant experience, he contended.
Vice chair Elizabeth Johnston (D-District 5) responded, saying she’d talked with Woods earlier Thursday. The candidate had asked Johnston to encourage everyone to support Knapp’s nomination.
Proposed budget 15% higher than this year's
At the Nov. 16 meeting, the board is set to vote on the proposed $147 million fiscal 2024 budget.
In September, the board heard details of that document, which represents a 15% increase over this year's. On Thursday, a public hearing was held about the proposed increase to the property tax levy.
The county proposes a flat tax rate, at just over 91 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value (EAV). But depending on whether a person's property was assessed higher this year, the owner could pay more in taxes for FY24.
It's that increase to area property values that means McLean County will capture more revenue, said Taylor. So, with a flat tax rate, the county could levy $46.3 million, roughly 11% more than last year.
During Thursday's public hearing on the proposed increase, three people addressed the board. Some shared disappointment the tax rate was not decreased, and others said they'd struggled finding information about the proposed hearing and annual budget.
On the McLean County website, the FY24 proposed budget is listed as a financial report as a choice on the "administration" page, accessible under "departments."
Board member George Wendt (R-District 3) said the state multiplier, also known as the equalization factor, was behind many of the higher assessments this year.
After the meeting, Metsker, (R-District 1) explained further. "We get numbers from the state, and they made us equalize all of our assessments in this county. Some townships had a higher increase than others," she said, noting if the county assessor didn't apply the multiplier, the state would step in. "We really would prefer to do it locally," she said.
One commenter during the hearing was Surena Fish, who said she'd like to see the budget included in a board packet. She said she called county officials, but wasn't able to get help finding the information. A resident of Bloomington's west side, Fish also decried the higher taxes proposed: "A lot of people in my area can't afford another tax increase. Period," she said.
Bloomington resident Steve Whelan also spoke. He said he disagreed with keeping a flat rate.
"If it goes up 11%, why can't you lower the tax rate a little bit to offset that huge EAV? You know, you could do that and still come out with some money," he said.
Taylor said the ups-and-downs of the levied amount keep the county’s finances in order, noting it's been a board directive for more than a decade to try to keep a flat rate.
”When we had lean years, where the EAV may have dropped or remained stagnant, the county was asked to make concessions to keep the tax rate flat," so it did. But, Taylor added, the same holds true in good years.
"This year is a boon year. So the tax rate did remain flat — however we are using those additional funds to bring county salaries up to market, to address some infrastructure problems we have with our buildings, and deferred maintenance that has been put off due to lack of funding,” she said.
In other business, the board approved spending:
- About $1.2 million with PIPCO Cos., to replace three boilers at the downtown Government Center, the county health department building, and the juvenile detention center.
- Roughly $850,000, to match funds to resurface Colfax Road from Illinois 9 to Illinois 165. That project is scheduled for next summer.
