Community Corner

Lake County Forest Preserve Budget Approved

2012-13 budget is balanced; improvements planned.

To keep over 29,500 acres of Forest Preserves in Lake County safe, clean and open for people to enjoy, the Lake County Forest Preserve Board of Commissioners adopted a Fiscal Year 2012-13 budget of $114,047,000 on May 8. For the fourth consecutive year, total property tax revenues collected for the Forest Preserve District are projected to decrease. Only 2.5 percent of property taxes collected in Lake County go to support the Lake County Forest Preserve District.

The District’s budget increased $31.2 million from last year due to a $30.2 million increase for completion of land acquisition and capital improvement projects funded by a voter-approved 2008 bond referendum.

The District’s budget is balanced even though the County’s Equalized Assessed Valuation (EAV) has had an unprecedented drop of 12.7 percent over the past three years which has translated into a significant drop in property tax revenue. The District has implemented staff reductions and many other cost cutting measures to maintain a balanced budget even with the drop in property tax revenues.

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"This has been another challenging year for many governmental agencies and the Lake County Forest Preserves is no exception. We are proud that excellent fiscal management has put the District on firm financial footing, with all reserves meeting required levels," said Ann Maine, President of the Lake County Forest Preserves.

“Our conservative budgeting approach has helped to maintain our AAA bond rating, an achievement that only six forest preserves or park districts in the nation can point toward,” Maine said.

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Budget Overview

Expenditures for operating and maintaining the Lake County Forest Preserves were increased only slightly. More than two-thirds of the budget funds Forest Preserve land purchases, capital projects or retirement of voter-approved bonds for those lands and projects. 

The Forest Preserve budget includes a Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan that outlines 40 projects, such as trails, other public access improvements and habitat restoration, to be completed in forest preserves throughout Lake County. Forest Preserve Commissioners have reviewed the Capital Improvement Plan over the last several months to reset project priorities and budgets.

As a result of bond referendum overwhelmingly approved by voters in November 2008, the District has a very successful ongoing land acquisition program that has taken advantage of reduced land prices, thereby stretching referendum dollars further. In fiscal year 2011-12 alone, the District expanded by nearly 200 acres. Most of these new acquisitions will be “land-banked” for the next few years, keeping the land in agricultural use or as conserved areas to limit operating costs until additional funds become available. Land acquisitions are projected to increase during the upcoming fiscal year. 

Public access improvements and renovations are underway at several forest preserves throughout the county, including Hastings Lake Forest Preserve, Lindenhurst. Additions to regional multipurpose trails are planned for the Millennium Trail in central, western and northern Lake County.

“Reductions in the county-wide EAV will continue to be a concern as the District moves forward. The District’s best course of action is to continue to control costs and carefully consider any changes to programs or staff. The ultimate goal is to maintain the fiscal and environmental health of the District,” said Maine.

About the Lake County Forest Preserves

As Lake County’s principal guardian of open space and natural areas since 1958, the Lake County Forest Preserves now manage more than 29,500 acres of land and offer innovative educational, recreational and cultural opportunities for all ages. Visitors of all ages can enjoy over 154 miles of trail for a variety of outdoor recreation uses, ponds and lakes for fishing, public golf courses, historical and cultural venues, public access to the Fox River, and award-winning nature and history education programs and events.

Facilities of special interest include Independence Grove in Libertyville, Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods, Lake County Discovery Museum in Wauconda, Greenbelt Cultural Center in Waukegan and ThunderHawk Golf Club in Beach Park.


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