St. Clair County reaches budget compromise with Veterans Assistance Office
Officials from St. Clair County and the county’s Veterans Assistance Commission have agreed to reallocate money for the next budget year to address concerns the VAC raised last week about its staff and office.
The commission assists veterans and their families in claiming disability and pension benefits. It also provides financial aid to veterans for rent, mortgage payments, utilities and food.
Commission Superintendent John Lawson told the County Board Finance Committee at its Nov. 17 meeting that the VAC’s current staff of six is “not nearly adequate” as the number of claims increases. He warned that veterans could face waitlists and service delays without additional staffing.
The commission also sought new office space to support its growth and comply with health privacy and accessibility laws, according to Lawson’s year-end report to the County Board.
Its current location, 19 Public Square, also houses the Intergovernmental Grants Department and the St. Clair County Health Department.
County Board member Phil Henning, a Republican who represents District 19, said in a previous interview that one issue with the VAC’s office in suite 300 is the lack of a bathroom on the third floor. Henning serves on the Veterans Assistance Commission as a non-voting member.
Commission supporters who attended the Finance Committee meeting also expressed concerns about evacuations and medical emergencies involving older veterans due to the stairs and small elevators in the building.
The VAC originally requested a $282,000 budget increase from the county, including about $67,000 for payroll and $100,000 for a new office and furniture. The county rejected that proposal and instead offered an increase of about $20,000, bringing the veterans assistance budget to nearly $1.1 million.
County Board Chairman Mark Kern told board members Monday night that Lawson and other county officials met privately and reached the following agreement to amend their budgets:
- The VAC will be able to add one new position. It already received a $20,190 increase for payroll in 2026. It will move additional money to payroll from its $121,850 health and life insurance budget.
- The county-owned building at 330 W. Main St. in Belleville will be the VAC’s new office. The property formerly housed Boatmen’s Bank, a drive-up office. St. Clair County will put $300,000 from its general fund toward renovations.
- The county will cut money budgeted for its flexible capital replacement fund to increase the aid available for indigent veterans to $240,000, the amount the VAC originally requested. (The county appropriated $217,000 in 2025 and proposed $215,660 for 2026 before these budget changes.)
The St. Clair County Board unanimously approved spending $48 million on the county’s daily operations in 2026 as part of the annual budget, a 4% increase from 2025.
The 2026 budget also includes 3% raises for county employees, the same rate they received in 2025.
Two County Board members were absent from Monday’s meeting: Democrats Jerry Dinges, of District 15, and Richie Meile, of District 25.
