A Will County Board member has expressed frustration over the delay in disbursing funds to an immigration services group. The county executive office argues there is insufficient documentation to process the grant money.
Board member Destinee Ortiz, representing Romeoville and a Democrat, noted that the Will County Board approved a $200,000 grant last November for Illinois Workers in Action. This funding, intended for immigration services, was to come from a portion of the county’s cannabis tax revenue. Ortiz, aligning with 11 board Republicans, supported the budget alongside a 0% tax levy and allocations to eight different programs benefiting from cannabis revenue.
Illinois Workers in Action is a nonprofit with locations in Chicago, Bolingbrook, and Aurora, serving the Will County region. The group’s organizers presented their case to both Republican and Democratic caucuses before the board voted. Ortiz played a role in reviewing the funding proposals, which she and Republican Vince Logan then presented to the County Board.
Nearly 10 months later, Ortiz expressed her concerns that the county executive’s office has not yet released the grant to Illinois Workers in Action. She questioned the executive’s discretion over approved cannabis funding.
Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant’s office claims the proposal lacked clarity, stating their inability to issue funds without specific purposes and proper documentation. According to spokesperson Mike Theodore, the cannabis funding approval involved unclear directions, including both typed and handwritten notes referencing “IWA – legal defense for immigrants with legal status”. The executive’s office has requested further guidance from board leadership.
Theodore further noted that Illinois Workers in Action was unfamiliar to county employees, and no organization with the acronym IWA is authorized by the U.S. Department of Justice for providing legal immigrant services. There were also concerns regarding the allocation of funds for salaries.
The county executive office aims to align funding with rigorous standards applied in the past, focusing on supporting internal programs benefiting Will County families.
Theodore critiqued the process around last fall’s cannabis allocation as unplanned and opaque.
Illinois Workers in Action’s Executive Director, Giselle Rodriguez, stated the organization has addressed board members’ questions and helped nearly 31,000 people across Illinois, mainly in Chicago suburbs. The organization relies on grants and is willing to comply with Will County’s funding procedures.
Ortiz aims to settle fiscal year 2026 allocations now, as fiscal year 2027 budget talks commence, urging the resolution to precede further developments.
Organizations previously receiving cannabis funds were asked to demonstrate their impact. Ortiz underscored the importance of aiding immigrants in Will County, emphasizing communities like Joliet, Bolingbrook, and Romeoville.
State Sen. Rachel Ventura addressed concerns in a letter, stating the county’s legal obligation to allocate approved funds. Jim Richmond, the County Board’s Republican leader, emphasized the executive office’s duty to execute the board’s decisions.
In July, an ad hoc cannabis revenue review committee was formed to set parameters for fund allocation. Richmond believes this committee can enhance transparency and establish guidelines for cannabis funds.
While the state lacks rules for cannabis fund allocation, Will County has historically applied it to public health and safety initiatives. The Joliet Unity Movement criticized the board for misusing funds intended to repair drug policy harm.
Additionally, the board allocated funds to other programs, such as the Children’s Advocacy Center, housing stabilization, workforce services, and various community initiatives. Ortiz highlighted issues with the clerk’s office also not yet receiving its allocated funds for equipment.