COUNTY RETHINKS POSITION ON DARE

KANE COUNTY -- Strong public and police reaction to a Kane County
board committee's recent decision not to fund the county's DARE
program has prompted county officials to revisit the issue.

Corrections Committee Chairwoman Karen McConnaughay (R-St. Charles)
said several board members have also complained "that they couldn't
weigh in" when the board's Executive Committee decided earlier this
month to reject the funding request from Kane County Sheriff Ken Ramsey.

Ramsey told the Corrections Committee last week that about $6,500,
rather than the $15,000 he initially sought, would be enough to cover
the cost of providing DARE to about 900 pre-teen students through the
balance of the school year.

Although Ramsey said he would dip in his own budget and look to other
sources for money, he reiterated his request that profits from the
Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin be used to tide the program over.

A surprise funding shortfall was created, Ramsey said, when the
Hollywood Casino in Aurora notified his office that it was forced to
withdraw its longtime support, citing financial constraints.

McConnaughay said the Executive Committee's decision has been
perceived widely across the county as "we are soft on crime."

McConnaughay's recommendation was referred to the Executive Committee
on a 5-2 vote.