Cassy Taylor

Over the past several years, individuals and groups have expressed dissatisfaction with transparency related to a public fund for mental health and public safety. WGLT dove into the data to see exactly how money has been spent and why there are $19 million in reserves.

Raymond Lai, the commission's executive director, presented the McLean County Board with problems identified so far. Lai hopes there's much more feedback to come before recommendations on improving the roadway are assembled next year.

Trevor Sierra, who until recently was the lead civil attorney in the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office, alleges County Administrator Cassy Taylor used her role to fundraise on behalf of a ballot initiative to eliminate the county’s elected auditor position.

The McLean County Board saw opposition from Republican members to both the proposed budget and the property tax levy.

After 14 years on the county board's district largely serving south Bloomington, Susan Schafer will end her term this year after losing in Tuesday's election. She said her legacy is in health.

A referendum to eliminate the elected office of McLean County auditor doesn’t appear to have much opposition, but that doesn’t mean it will pass. It’s the second time in the last decade people will vote on the issue.

The McLean County Board received a presentation of fiscal year 2025's projections that include a slight decrease in overall spending, a property tax decrease and higher salaries for county employees.

The newly formed Mental Health and Public Safety Fund Advisory Council — named after the fund Bloomington and Normal shared sales tax dollars create — had its first meeting on Monday, when members approved $1.5 million for new behavioral health initiatives in 2025.

Chestnut Health Systems and the McLean County Health Department have invested in vending machines that will freely dispense the overdose reversal medication Narcan, and the county recently started making payments to Chestnut for a contracted opioid prevention coordinator.

Restructuring of McLean County’s Behavioral Health Coordinating Council is complete, and as McLean County Board Chair Catherine Metsker promised when she suspended meetings in March, the group now has a defined — and codified — structure, with clear objectives.