The City of Champaign Township board approved the fiscal year 2025–26 annual budget and appropriation ordinance after a public hearing and extended public comment about the township-operated low-barrier shelter Strides and related staffing and transparency issues.

The board voted 8–1 to adopt Ordinance 205901, the annual budget and appropriation ordinance, after closing the public hearing on the proposed budget. Chairperson Feynon called the roll for the ordinance vote; the minutes record board member Kyles Pinfetti, Pollock, Shannon, Williams, Claiborne, Fulmer and Chairperson Feynon voting “yes,” board member Gladney voting “no,” producing an 8–1 outcome.

The vote followed nearly two hours of public comment and board discussion focused largely on Strides, the county’s low-barrier shelter that the township currently operates. Multiple nonprofit leaders and service providers urged continued funding for the shelter while also pressing for program changes, clearer oversight and partnership across community agencies.

Katie Harmon, coordinator of the Continuum of Service Providers to the Homeless, told the board the Continuum’s executive committee “is committed to a low barrier shelter in our community as an essential tool for public health and safety” and said the group had voted to support the township through a six-month “revisioning and rebuilding plan” with benchmarks, monthly reporting and an offer to help coordinate a rebuilding committee. Harmon said the committee recommends launching an open request-for-proposals for a new operator if the rebuilding benchmarks are not met in a timely way.

Beverly Baker, chief impact officer at United Way of Champaign County, said local organizations have been meeting with the township to offer technical assistance and “help provide some guidance to improve the program, the services, the safety, the quality, and the environment for everybody, including the neighborhood around it.”

Board members and the public repeatedly criticized the timing and completeness of documents related to a “revisioning” plan for Strides. Several board members said they received the plan and related materials only hours before the meeting and asked that the supervisor provide materials earlier and schedule a study session for in-depth discussion.

“...you cannot give it to us at 04:30 in the afternoon when we meet at 7,” Town board member Shannon said, decrying the late distribution of the revisioning materials and asking for more notice so board members and the public can review documents in advance.

Supervisor Patterson confirmed the township had made an internal hire for the shelter’s executive director position, appointing Charlene Murray, and said the salary increase for her new duties is “small enough that it fits into the budget.” Patterson said the township will not fill the former director of community relations position and will fold some of those responsibilities into Murray’s role. “It’s just an interim position for now,” Patterson said when asked how the salary was set.

Several service providers described how the shelter functions in rehousing work and urged the township to preserve a low-barrier option while strengthening program operations. Claudia Lenhoff, executive director of Champaign County Healthcare Consumers, described financial and administrative barriers that prevent people from moving into housing even after they qualify for benefits such as SSI and urged landlords and funders to consider flexible options that allow people to exit shelter.

Critics in the audience also challenged the township’s prior funding choices. Michael Kramer, a Champaign resident, argued at the microphone that using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds or other one-time money to cover recurring shelter costs was a mistake, and he reiterated public opposition to past property tax referendums that sought to fund the shelter.

Board members called for a formal, public study session on Strides. Multiple members—citing late document delivery and unanswered questions about staffing, fundraising and long-term funding—said they would approve the budget but wanted faster, more complete communication and a plan of action. “We have to have a study session,” Chairperson Feynon said; Supervisor Patterson agreed to coordinate timing with the city manager’s office.

The ordinance vote completes the formal adoption of the township’s 2025–26 budget. Several nonprofit speakers and board members said they would continue to participate in revisioning and collaborative solutions whether the township retains direct operational responsibility for Strides or the shelter’s operation is shifted to another provider following a competitive process.

The meeting record shows board action on two preparatory motions earlier in the agenda—approval of the minutes of the Sept. 2, 2025 regular meeting and acceptance of a correspondence item from a former Strides employee—both adopted by voice vote. The public hearing on the budget opened at the board’s direction and was closed before the ordinance vote. The board adjourned after the vote.

The township posted that copies of the proposed 2025–26 budget were placed in the town clerk’s office, the township supervisor’s office and on the township website; the supervisor said the revisioning plan would be posted the following morning and that staff would arrange copies for the public at the meeting.

Next steps identified by board members include scheduling a study session to review the revisioning plan and benchmarks in detail, monthly reporting to the board on rebuilding benchmarks as proposed by the Continuum’s executive committee, and additional community engagement to explore shared funding and operational options for low-barrier shelter services in Champaign County.