ISACo Policy Briefs and Fact Sheets
Providing resources to better educate county officials about new laws is an essential mission of ISACo. To that end, we redesigned the resource page that includes our growing collection of Policy Briefs and other informational documents about key laws and policy issues pertinent to counties. Staff continues to add additional resources to this page.
Our redesigned Policy Briefs and Fact Sheets page is available via this link.
Local Officials Appreciation Picnic Event at the Illinois State Fair
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is inviting county officials to the Local Officials Appreciation Picnic on August 17, 2024. Please click here to RSVP for this event.
ISACo Accepting Legislative Proposals for 2025 - INPUT REQUESTED!
Does your county have a problem in need of a legislative solution? If so, please e-mail it to Legislative Advocacy and Research Manager Nekya Hall at nhall@isacoil.org. Submitted proposals will be considered within ISACo's committee process. Proposals ultimately approved by the ISACo Board of Directors will be included within our 2025 Illinois County Action Program (ICAP).
Additionally, ISACo will be considering amendments to our County Platform for 2025. Please review the 2024 County Platform and send any suggestions for additions/changes to nhall@isacoil.org. Proposed changes will be considered by the Legislative Committee and Board of Directors.
Join ISACo's Policy Committees
ISACo policy committees shape the Association's legislative advocacy efforts. Meetings are held virtually and committees meet four times per year unless committee members desire to meet more frequently. Service on an ISACo Policy Committee is contingent upon the county being a member of ISACo or the applicant being a member of an affiliated association.
Policy Committee opportunities are as follows. Committees with links are already meeting, although there are openings on all policy committees.
Please click on the image below, complete the form and e-mail it to Legislative Advocacy and Research Manager Nekya Hall at nhall@isacoil.org.
More than $30 Million Available for Non-Congregate Shelter Developments
On August 8, 2024, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) announced that it will begin accepting applications for the development of emergency shelter for persons experiencing homelessness. Available through the HOME-ARP Non-Congregate Shelter Development Program, the funding will support experienced shelter providers as they acquire or develop non-congregate shelter facilities across Illinois. The program is part of IHDA’s continuing efforts to improve the housing safety net and help Illinois achieve “functional zero” homelessness.
The press release is available via this link.
Illinois Increases Investments in Climate Smart Agriculture Practices
The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) in partnership with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) announced an $111 million investment in the ag sector through a U.S. EPA (USEPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grant. Building on existing federal and state initiatives, this unprecedented opportunity provides farmers with the sustainability and security needed to make long-term on-farm decisions. U.S. EPA announced the full grant totaling more than $430 million over five years last month.
The press release is available via this link.
$4 Million in Funding for the Small Equipment Grant Program
On August 7, 2024, the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced the application period is open for the Small Equipment Grant Program. The OSFM will award $4 million to eligible fire departments and ambulance services for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment. All interested departments should send an application to OSFM electronically or postmarked no later than October 1, 2024.
The press release is available via this link.
Plans for New Digital Licensure Process for Working Professionals in Illinois
On August 6, 2024, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced, in addition to modernizing outdated processes, it has reached an agreement to secure a new professional licensing system for individuals whose careers require a license to work in Illinois. Through an approximately $9 million investment over the next three years by the Pritzker Administration and the General Assembly, IDFPR will partner with NIC Licensing Solutions, LLC, an industry leading digital government service provider, to implement the new online system.
With a focus on increased government transparency, the new licensing system will feature a user-friendly interface with improved communications and creates a streamlined review of license applications and fees. Prospective licensees will be notified electronically when applications are received, reviewed, and licenses are issued by the Department. IDFPR will immediately begin implementation of the new solution and all Departmental licensees will be transitioned to the new licensing system in six phases, ensuring every application and fee payment will be available online.
The press release is available via this link.
What We're Reading
Is Left-Behind America Making a Comeback? (Governing Magazine)
Illinois Law Signed to Clear Hurdles for Former Juvenile Offenders (Fox 2 Now)
FCC Proposes First-Of-Their-Kind AI-Generated Robocall and Robotext Rules (FCC)
State Now has Blueprint for K-12 Schools to Teach Dangers of Overdose (Capitol News Illinois)
Upcoming Public Surplus Webinar Dates
Public Surplus will be offering 20-minute webinar sessions to interested individuals to learn more about Public Surplus and its online auction site. Participants will also be guided on how to register, or re-register to create a new account.
Public Surplus is an online auction platform that offers services to local government agencies.
ISACo has partnered with Public Surplus to provide large discounts for our county members when it comes to doing online auctions, specifically real estate sales.
Through a partnership with ISACo, Illinois counties are eligible to list items with a reduced buyer's premium, which will encourage competitive bidding on surplus items listed. With Public Surplus, buyers are responsible for all service fees, and it costs counties nothing to use the service.
Public Surplus will also provide a 10 percent rebate to ISACo on each sale so that the Association can continue to offer a high level of service at minimal cost to members.
The webinar will take place on the following dates:
- September 11, 2024, at 11 am CST
- October 10, 2024, at 2 pm CST
- October 22,2024, at 3 pm CST
Stay tuned for available links to the webinars.
Upcoming NACo Webinars
NACo has announced the following upcoming webinar opportunities. ISACo is a proud partner with NACo and encourages counties to participate in NACo membership and activities.
Introducing Public Safety & Community Resilience Solutions for Public Agencies, a NACo Public Promise Procurement Webinar
(Wednesday, August 14, 2024, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)
Looking for a reliable partner for emergency preparedness, response and recovery? Explore the newest most innovative government cooperative contract for public safety and disaster recovery with NACo's Public Promise Procurement.
Join Public Promise Procurement and our partners from Cobb County, Georgia and Safeware, Inc. to explore a new innovative contract for solutions to support communities in preparing for, responding to and recovering from emergencies, as well as supporting the complex requirements of public safety agencies. We'll discuss the procurement process, contractor's capabilities and steps you can take to access these proven solutions.
Meet our presenters:
Stephanie Brice, Deputy Director Cobb County Procurement Services Department
Rick Bond, Chief Revenue Officer, Safeware, Inc.
Cathy Muse, Program Manager, Public Promise Procurement
Who should attend: Public procurement professionals, public safety agencies, emergency operations and planning agencies, risk and safety professionals, anyone involved in workplace and industrial safety.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
Transforming County Services: From a Projects to Products Mindset - Insights from Franklin County, Ohio
(Thursday, August 15, 2024, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)
Join the National Association of Counties and special guests from Franklin County, Ohio, for an insightful online event sponsored by Granicus. We’ll discuss the challenges (including recent website accessibility requirements) and realities of Franklin County’s service delivery strategy shift from a project-based approach to a product-focused mindset while consolidating over 40 independent agency websites into a cohesive, centralized platform.
Whether you are a government official, a public sector IT professional, or simply interested in digital government innovations, this online event will provide valuable lessons learned and practical insights that will improve your next service delivery project.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
Building a Behavioral Health Continuum of Care: The Role of Rural Leaders and Behavioral Health Directors
(Thursday, August 22, 2024, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)
Counties play a critical role in supporting community members living with behavioral health conditions or experiencing a behavioral health crisis. To build an effective and robust behavioral health system, counties need strong leadership to promote dialogue in the community and implement programs and policies that benefit all residents.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
How We Did It: Elevating Short Term Rental Compliance with Yates County, NY
(Thursday, August 22, 2024, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)
Struggling to recoup revenue from short-term rentals? You’re not alone. Short-term rentals on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo can generate significant amounts of tourism-related tax revenue. The tricky part? Identifying who owes what and prompting remittance. Join this webinar to learn best practices from Yates County, NY, which was able to collect $185k in back taxes in 6 months.
Key takeaways:
- How to identify what you’re owed through local and state legislation
- Why rental property addresses and owners are difficult to identify
- Best practices for rolling out a short-term rental compliance program
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
Empowering Counties with AI: A Holistic Approach
(Thursday, August 29, 2024, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)
Discover how to transform your county's operations through strategic AI implementation. This webinar will discuss the eight critical focus areas that will propel your government into the future—from crafting a robust AI strategy and fostering an AI-ready culture to ensuring proper governance and identifying the right technology infrastructure. Whether you've already begun your AI journey or just getting started, join us as we share the essential components of AI integration for county governments.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
Growing the Early Care and Education Workforce through Apprenticeships
(Thursday, September 5, 2024, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)
Early care and education (ECE) providers are often called the workforce behind the workforce because access to child care allows parents to work and further their education and training. However, the ECE field struggles with high rates of turnover and difficulty recruiting new workers because of low wages and poor benefits. Apprenticeships are one strategy to help the ECE workforce pursue additional education and credentials while being compensated and supporting during their learning. Join this webinar to hear how counties are utilizing apprenticeship programs to grow child care supply and strengthen local economies.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
Q3 Tech Xchange Focus Group: What are you doing to create a strong data governance for your county?
(Friday, September 6, 2024, 11:00am-12:00pm CST)
Join NACo for a robust discussion that unpacks best practices in data governance. Do you know where your data "crown jewels" are located? Do you struggle with “Shadow IT”? Do you have a data asset inventory? How is your data preserved and secured against technology failures or cyber-crimes? Counties are comprised of individual departments, many with independent elected officials. Current data governance strategies need to account for data in all forms: on premise, cloud, storage providers (e.g. OneDrive, DropBox), collaboration platforms (e.g. Teams, Webex), email, non-digital (paper), removeable media, etc. A strong governance model will cover data from creation to coordinated and planned deletion. If time permits, the association between a strong governance policy and the effective management of right-to-know requests will be explored.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
NACo Cyberattack Simulation: Financial Access
(Monday, Sept. 23 - Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)
Financial transaction systems are prime targets for cyber threats due to the value and sensitivity of the data. This cyber simulation assesses risks and fortifies safeguards within financial access systems. The simulation involves breaches from unauthorized access to financial systems, often obtained through what seem to be legitimate contacts, but in reality, are not. The simulation seeks to foster a comprehensive understanding of the complexities inherent in securing financial access to systems, enabling the development and testing of proactive strategies to mitigate cyber risks effectively. Insights derived from this simulation will empower institutions to fortify their cybersecurity posture, implement stringent controls, bolster incident response capabilities, and proactively defend against evolving cyber threats targeting financial infrastructure.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP is the largest law firm in the nation dedicated exclusively to collecting governmental debt. Last year we managed more than $10 billion in delinquencies on behalf of more than 2,400 governmental entities. Our collection programs are custom tailored using the latest technology and guided by the highest legal and ethical standards.
In addition to standard collection services, our unique data analysis technology gives us the ability to identify potential receivables such as erroneous homestead exemptions.
Linebarger’s Chicago office provides comprehensive collection services to cities across Illinois including Chicago, Waukegan, Joliet and Springfield, as well as the Illinois Department of Revenue.