PIKE COUNTY FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THREE-YEAR ELECTRIC CONTRACT, REVIEWS BUDGET AND TAX QUESTIONS

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Pike County's Finance Committee voted Tuesday evening, October 20, to recommend a three-year electricity-supply contract while reviewing the county's budget outlook, questions about sales-tax distributions, an unresolved federal payroll-tax notice and outstanding bills.

The committee recommended a 36-month agreement with AEP Energy at 10.239 cents per kilowatt-hour. The proposal was moved by Lance Kendrick, seconded by Don Foster and approved by the committee on a voice vote. It remains a recommendation, not a final contract approved by the full Pike County Board.

During the discussion, members said the county's existing electricity supply rate with Constellation was 8.65 cents per kilowatt-hour. A revised one-year AEP proposal had risen to 9.492 cents per kilowatt-hour, compared with an earlier quote of 8.893 cents. These figures apply to electricity supply and do not include Ameren delivery charges or other utility-bill costs.

Members debated whether to accept a lower short-term rate or lock in three years of price certainty. They ultimately recommended the longer term because of concerns about future price increases. The full County Board's next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 26.

The committee also reviewed preliminary 2026 finances. Figures presented for roughly the first 10 months showed approximately $5.4 million in expenditures and $3.8 million in revenue, before other financing and tax-receipt adjustments were considered. An estimate discussed at the meeting showed positive cash flow of approximately $347,978 at that point.

That figure is not a final year-end surplus. Members cautioned that the county still faces additional payroll and other expenses, possible outstanding audit charges, health-insurance accounting questions and year-end adjustments. They said an earlier projected deficit of roughly $370,000 to $380,000 might prove smaller, but the final result cannot be determined until remaining figures are reconciled.

In the treasurer's update, members heard that sales-tax receipts were up roughly $101,000 and sheriff's fees about $52,000, while circuit clerk fees were down about $73,000 and county clerk fees around $20,000. The general fund was described as up about $103,504 overall. The treasurer also discussed soliciting bids for a tax-anticipation note so borrowing would be available if needed. No decision to draw on such a note was announced.

Questions were raised about the distribution of county sales-tax receipts. Members compared reported public-safety revenue associated with a 1.25 percent tax against revenue from a separate half-percent tax and said the amounts appeared unexpectedly close. They also discussed the division of certain receipts between ambulance and sheriff operations. Officials agreed to examine the records; the meeting did not establish that money was missing or incorrectly distributed.

Another unresolved issue involves a 2021 payroll-tax matter. The committee was told the county paid approximately $19,000 in response to an Internal Revenue Service notice and has a copy of the canceled check, but the payment may not have been applied to the proper account. A later IRS notice sought approximately $33,000. Members said the issue is under review and expressed hope that the payment will be traced and any improper charges corrected.

Members also questioned how costs were divided on a software-vendor invoice totaling about $10,217, including charges involving a payroll interface, and whether a proposed $2,500 credit-card payment setup for animal-shelter transactions would be justified by usage. Those discussions did not produce separate recorded resolutions on the disputed details.

The committee voted to approve bills totaling $120,912.45 before adjourning at 6:46 p.m. The meeting began at 6 p.m. in the Pike County Government Building.

RiverNewsLive reviewed the October 20 meeting recording directly for this report. The county's published calendar identifies the session as a Finance Committee meeting, not a meeting of the full County Board. Official calendar: https://www.pikecountyil.org/event/finance-committee-meeting-19/2026-10-20/