‘Something just has to give’; Lake County approves $640M budget, increased tax levy

Due to a high inflationary environment, significant staff vacancies, an upcoming presidential election and new county programs, the 2024 Lake County budget will be larger than the 2023 spending plan and include an increase in the property tax levy.

The county budget and property tax levy for fiscal year 2024 was approved Tuesday by the Lake County Board, with 13 members in favor.

Property taxes levied by the county have not been raised in four fiscal years and during the global pandemic, a feat about which nearly all board members were proud. However, many members said that not raising the levy this time around would be unsustainable for county staff and programs.

The total budget for 2024 will be $640 million, a 6.4% increase from the previous fiscal year. The operating budget is just over half of that, at $375.2 million, a 4.8% increase from 2023.

The majority of the budget funds the general government operating budget, which maintains elections, record keeping, staff salaries and more. The next significant chunk of funds goes toward the county’s health and human services department, transportation and public safety, aligning with the county’s strategic plan and priorities, said Patrice Sutton, the county’s chief financial officer.

To meet the larger budget, the property tax levy is also increasing for the 2024 fiscal year to 5%, compared to last year’s 2.4%. Property taxes account for about 30% of county revenue, and the rest comes from sales tax, water bills, charges for services and more.

For the average Lake County home priced at about $280,000, property taxes paid to the county will only increase by about $7. Last year, owners of the average home paid $546.50 to the county in property taxes. For 2024, the tax will be $553.68, only $7.18 more.

Due to the simultaneous increase in assessed property values, the collected levy will be about $178 million for 2024, an increase from previous years, Sutton said.

Property taxes paid to the county make up only 6% of a homeowner’s overall property tax bill. The remaining 94% goes to other taxing entities, such as school districts, villages and cities.

Sutton, who was unanimously approved for the position of county administrator at Tuesday’s meeting, said the levy increase was an “absolute need” to address the recruitment and retention of county staff.

“Right now, we have systemic vacancies in very key areas, and departments have indicated that it’s because we are just not meeting the market and therefore we can’t attract new talent,” she said.

The increased budget also allows for additional new county programs, such as adding staff for diversity, equity and inclusion; an internal audit program; gun violence prevention; and hiring a consultant for a tree initiative the board approved with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Budget supported across county departments

Countywide elected officials offered statements of support for the budget at the board meeting, including Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart, Coroner Jennifer Banek and County Clerk Anthony Vega.

Rinehart thanked the board for including salary increases for prosecutors in his office. Current salaries fall below the wages for assistant state’s attorneys in neighboring DuPage, McHenry and Cook counties, he said.

“This budget will allow our prosecutors to be paid some of what they are worth,” Rinehart said. “I believe that they will always be worth much more. They are some of the hardest working people in our system, and they deserve to be paid as the public servants that they are.”

Board member Kevin Hunter, R-Lake Villa, said he could not support the levy increase because the county had a large amount of money from APRA and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

“We’ve done a lot of good things, (and) we helped an awful lot of people,” he said. “And we will continue to do those things, but I can’t support raising the tax levy.”

Hunter added that the underprivileged and low-income people of his district don’t need additional taxes.

County board members who voted in favor of the budget and levy increase voiced that their constituents rely on county-funded services, and while a tax increase may not be ideal, the constituents deserve the services, many of which rely on county staff.

Board member Carissa Casbon, D-Gurnee, said voting for the budget was the fiscally responsible action.

“A vote for this budget represents a critical investment in our county government’s most valuable asset: our staff,” she said. “Were I not to vote for this investment in them, I would not be able to look them in the eye.”

Board member Esiah Campos, D-Round Lake, said his constituency, many of whom are low-income, rely on county services.

“I want them to remember all the years and all the services that (the county) still provided without raising the levy,” Campos said. “Something just has to give.”