Forest Preserve District Approves Reduced Budget

The Lake County Forest Preserve District's overall budget for 2013-14 decreased $12.4 million over the last fiscal year.

To keep more than 30,000 acres of forest preserves in Lake County safe, clean and open for people to enjoy, the Lake County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners adopted a reduced fiscal year 2013-2014 budget of $101.5 million at its May 14 meeting. For the fifth consecutive year, total forest preserve property tax revenues collected are projected to decrease substantially due to declines in Lake County’s equalized assessed value (EAV), and because of the district's conservative budgeting practices and wise use of available fiscal resources. The overall budget decreased $12.4 million (11 percent) from the previous year, primarily due to an $11.4 million (21.5 percent) decrease in the capital budget. Of property taxes collected in…

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Budget Cuts Hurt

It's easy to make decisions in Springfield when you don't think about the fallout of your actions.

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District 128 Narrows Deficit on Working Budget

Amended budget shows a possible $1 million deficit, down from the $3 million previously estimated.

After passing a working budget with a $3 million deficit in June, Community High School District 128 Finance and Facility's Committee members discussed amendments on Monday that saved the district $2 million. According to Yasmine Dada, assistant superintendent of business for the district, the budget will not be adopted and finalized until August or September. The majority of the $3 million deficit in June was due to capital improvement projects. Modifications have since been made to the fiscal year 2012 working budget to include additional tax revenues from the state and adjusted local taxes, adding $1 million in revenues. In addition, payments made during the fiscal year 2011 and on current capital projects were reflected in the new …

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This Week in Libertyville

Each week, Libertyville Patch will summarize the week's top stories, including links to those articles, for your convenience.

Butler Lake Death Believed To Be Suicide A passerby found a body near the far western end of Butler Lake on Friday, according to Libertyville police Sgt. Dennis Meserve. Kennedy Enters Lake County State’s Attorney Race Libertyville resident and Lake Forest attorney Chris Kennedy announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Lake County State’s Attorney, surrounded by more than 40 elected officials and supporters Thursday on the steps of Cook Memorial Library in Libertyville.  Village Eyes Bolander Building’s Future Village officials are discussing what to do with the Bolander Building and property on Winchester Road. The building needs capital improvements that may not be justified with the property's low use level, said …

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Village Trustees OK $15,000 for Fireworks

The News Sun reports Libertyville recently approved funds for fireworks display July 4.

Village trustees recently approved $15,000 for fireworks display on Fourth of July. Jonny Rockets Inc., which produced the show last year, will do so again this year, according to the Lake County News-Sun. For the full story, go to www.NewsSun.Suntimes.com.

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County Board Cuts Its Pay

Most Lake County Board members will see smaller salary in 2013.

Two-thirds of Lake County Board representatives will take a pay cut, starting in 2013. There are 15 board members earning $44,074; the other eight are paid $40,945 per year. The Lake County Board approved paying all members $40,945 per year at its June 14 meeting. The board’s reapportionment committee proposed the salary change at its June 7 meeting, to start in December 2012, the start of fiscal 2013. The original proposal would have evened out the salaries at $43,750 for four years. Brent Paxton, who represents Zion District 4, made a motion to lower the salaries to $40,945 at the June 7 committee meeting, but did not get a second from reapportionment committee members. County Board member Anne Flanigan Bassi, who represents Highland …

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Trimming Village Budget a Tough Task

After lengthy discussion, the mayor and staff change village's approach about ways to improve Libertyville's financial situation.

Libertyville officials are trying hard to find ways to save taxpayers money in these sluggish economic times. But such a task often is easier said than done, which became quite apparent earlier this week. At the board's June 14 Committee of the Whole meeting, talks about which services in the town budget should be considered “core” services and which ones should be “elective,” quickly changed focus. “The purpose of this discussion is to determine what (budget items) we need or don't need,” Mayor Terry Weppler told village staff and the audience at the start of the meeting. “I anticipate this will take us more than one evening to go through.” However, about an hour into the meeting, Weppler made it clear he felt there were more efficient …

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This Week in Libertyville

Each week, Libertyville Patch will summarize the week's top stories, including links to those articles, for your convenience.

State Will Spend $3 Billion Less Than Last Year An Illinois state budget that will reduce spending by approximately $3 billion from the last fiscal year passed the state Senate Monday night and will go to Gov. Patrick Quinn for his signature. The spending plan is $1 billion less than Quinn originally proposed.  Libertyville Man Accused of Arson May Attend Alcoholic Anonymous Meetings A judge has ruled that an alleged arsonist may attend Anonymous Alcoholic meetings weekly as long as a parent accompanies him. Libertyville resident Kyle Kowal, 26, is accused of setting fire to area homes in March. A homeowner affected by the fire wrote a Letter to the Editor encouraging the community to show support and forgiveness. Tree Removal on Dymond …

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Libertyville Township Considers Lowering Tax Levy

Libertyville township board may lower taxes for 2011.

Libertyville Township board is considering decreasing the tax levy, or the amount of the township budget to be picked up by taxpayers, by 10 percent for the fiscal year 2011. "I'm proposing decreasing levy by 10 percent and really working on having our expenditures meet our revenue so we can eventually have a flat fund balance, where we are only taking in as much as we are spending," said Kathleen O'Connor, supervisor of Libertyville Township at the Township Board meeting on Thursday. The township board is working on a preliminary budget to figure out how much the township will need for 2011 before asking taxpayers for money. For the fiscal year 2010, the township levied about $1.8 million and is projected to have a fund balance of about $…

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Public Schooling: District 128 Sheds Light on Budget

Community High School District 128 explains its $4 million surplus in Finance 101 classes, which are open to the public.

Community High School District 128 has added a class to its schedule that isn't for students.  The district, which governs Libertyville High School and Vernon Hill High School, is hosting Finance 101 classes to educate people on how the school generates and spends its money. "Teacher get caught up in how is this money coming directly into my classroom," said Joe O'brien, a teacher and department supervisor at Libertyville High School, who attended the class when it started in 2009. "I think it was helpful to get a better idea of the great responsibility that goes into preparing a school district's finances." The Finance 101 classes are a part of the district's strategic plan to communicate its financial health to the community. The …

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