Investment Policy

It is always prudent for any public unit to have an Investment Policy in place for the purpose of safe guarding funds, equitably distributing the investments and maximizing income of the governmental unit. The following policy is adopted for the Kane County Government, hereby referred to as Kane County. 

 a) Scope of Investment Policy 

This Investment Policy applies to the investment activities of all funds under the jurisdiction of Kane County. This Investment Policy will also apply to any new funds or temporary funds placed under the jurisdiction of Kane County. The Illinois Compiled Statues will take precedence except where this policy is more restrictive wherein this policy will take precedence. 

 b) Availability 

A copy of this policy shall be made available to the public, upon request, in the Treasurer's office during normal business hours. The county board on an annual basis shall review this investment policy. 

  c) Objectives 

The Purpose of this Investment Policy of Kane County is to establish cash management and investment guidelines for the stewardship of public funds under the jurisdiction of Kane County. The specific objectives of this investment policy will be as follows: 

1. Safety of principal. 
   
2. Diversity of investments to avoid unreasonable risks. 
   
3. The portfolio shall remain sufficiently liquid to meet all operating costs, which may be reasonably anticipated. 
   
4. The highest interest rate available will always be the objective of this policy combined with safety of principal, which is left to the discretion of the Kane County Treasurer, which includes whether or not Kane County will require collateralization of any deposits. 
   
5. In maintaining its investment portfolio, Kane County shall avoid any transaction that might impair public confidence in the Kane County Government. 
   
6. Kane County may give consideration to the financial institutions positive community involvement when consideration is given to the financial institution to be used as a depository, including compliance with the Illinois Sustainable Investing Act.​ 
   
7. All funds will be invested for a period of one day or longer, depending on the requirement for the disbursement of funds. 
   
8. All funds shall be deposited within two working days at prevailing rates or better in accordance with Illinois Compiled Statues. 
   
   

  d) Responsibility 

All investment of funds under the control of the Kane County Treasurer is the direct responsibility of the Kane County Treasurer. The Kane County Treasurer shall be responsible for all transactions and shall establish a system of controls of the activities of all subordinates who are directly involved in the assistance of such investment activities. 

  e) Prudence 

The standard of prudence to be used by investment officials shall be the "prudent person,” and shall be applied in the context of managing an overall portfolio. Investment officers acting in accordance with written procedures and exercising due diligence shall be relieved of personal responsibility for any individual securities credit risk or market price changes, provided that deviations from expectation are reported in a timely fashion to the county board, and appropriate action is taken to control adverse developments. 

  f) Accounting 

The Kane County Governmental Units shall record all investment transactions. A report will be generated, at least monthly, listing all active investments. Information regarding securities in portfolio by class or type, book value, interest earned and market value as of report date. This report will be made available to the Kane County Board. 

  g) Availability of Funds 

The Treasurer has the option of requiring a three-business-day hold on disbursement requests of one hundred thousand dollars or more. 

  h) Financial Institutions 

The Kane County Treasurer will have the sole responsibility to select which financial institutions will be depositories for Kane County Treasurer funds. Kane County will take into consideration security, size, location, condition, service, fees and may also give consideration to the community relation's involvement of the financial institution when choosing a financial institution. 

At no time will Kane County's uncollateralized investment, in any fund, exceed 75% of the financial institution's capital and surplus. 

1. All financial institutions having any type of financial relationships: deposits, investment, loans, etc. are required to provide a complete and current "Call Report" required by their appropriate regulatory authority each calendar year within 30 days of the "Call" request date. 
   
2. All governmental agencies listed below are required to provide to the Finance Director a list of all employees with signature authority and also provide a list of all bank accounts open on an annual basis. 
   
3. All financial institutions accepting funds from the following governmental agencies are required to notify the Finance Director anytime an account is opened or closed by said agency: 
   

Kane County Adult Corrections Complex, Kane County Animal Control, Aurora Election Commission, Kane County Board of Review, All Kane County Boards and Commissions, Kane County Building and Zoning Commission, Kane County Central Services, Kane County Community Services Division, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Kane County Coroner, Kane County Auditor, Kane County Clerk, Kane County Health Department, Kane County Historic Preservation Commission, Kane County Human Resources Department, Kane County Information Technologies Department, Kane County Jury Commission, Kane County Department of Employment and Education (KCDEE), Law Library, Kane County Liquor Commission, Kane County Office of Emergency Management, Kane County Public Defenders Office, Kane County Recorder, Kane County Regional Planning Commission, Kane County Sheriff, Kane County States Attorney, Kane County Transportation Division, Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission, Water Resource and Platting Division, Zoning Board of Appeals. 

Failure to comply may result in exclusion from participation in the Treasurer's investment and collection programs. All information supplied to the Treasurer will be forwarded (annually) to the internal/external Auditors and the Finance Director. 

  i) Investment Vehicles 

Kane County will use investments approved for governmental units as set forth in the most current issue of the Illinois Compiled Statues 5/3-11006. The Kane County Board, when requested by the County Treasurer, shall designate one or more banks or other financial institutions in which the funds and other public moneys in the custody of the county treasurer may be kept and when a bank or other financial institution has been designated as a depository it shall continue as such until 10 days have elapsed after a new depository is designated and has qualified by furnishing the statements of resources and liabilities as is required by this Section. When a new depository is designated, the county board shall notify the sureties of the county treasurer of that fact, in writing, at least 5 days before the transfer of funds. The County Treasurer shall be discharged from responsibility for all funds and moneys, which he deposits in a depository so designated while such funds and moneys are so deposited. 

   j) Collateral 

It shall be the discretion of the Kane County Treasurer to determine whether or not collateral will be required of financial institutions receiving funds from the Kane County Treasurer. At all times the Kane County Treasurer will require that deposits in excess of 25% of the capital and surplus of a financial institution will be collateralized. The Kane County Treasurer may request collateral for any part of deposits in financial institutions when the Kane County Treasurer determines it to be in the best interests of safeguarding the funds on deposit. It shall be noted that in the normal course of operations there may be temporary fluctuations in the fund balance to collateral ratio. Due to this, funds may not have 100% collateralization 100% of the time. It shall be the intent of the Treasurer not to allow a collateral shortage to exceed 30 days for any one account. 

When collateral is required, 100% of the deposit will be required. Only the following collateral will be accepted:

• U. S. Government direct securities 
  
• Obligations of Federal Agencies 
  
• Obligations of Federal Instrumentalities 
  
• Obligations of the State of Illinois 
  
• Obligations of the County of Kane 
  
• Obligations of municipalities located within the County of 
  
• Kane, subject to acceptance by the Kane County Treasurer 
  

Acceptable collateral as identified in the Illinois Compiled 

Statues for use by the Treasurer of the State of Illinois. 

Investments shall be made with judgment and care, under circumstances then prevailing, which persons of prudence, discretion and intelligence exercise in the management of their affairs, not for speculation, but for investment, considering the probable safety of their capital as well as the possible income to be derived. 

The above standard is established as the standard for professional responsibility and shall be applied in the context of managing Kane County's portfolio. Pursuant to the Public Funds Investment Act at 30 Illinois Compiled Statues 235/2.5 and other provisions included in that Act, along with all other Statues and Constitutional provisions regarding conflicts of interest and ethical considerations. 

  k) Security Controls 

Only the Kane County Treasurer is authorized to establish financial accounts for the office of Kane County Treasurer. All other offices must seek the approval of the County Board, unless otherwise prescribed by law. At all times either the Kane County Treasurer, singly or jointly with the County Clerk are authorized to sign on financial accounts of Kane County, unless otherwise prescribed by law.

Christopher J. Lauzen
Kane County Treasurer​