Lake County Financial Administrative Committee Meeting - August 28, 2025

The Financial Administrative Committee (FAC) of Lake County, Illinois, met on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 8:30 AM. Chair Frank was absent; Vice Chair Park presided. The meeting included a quarterly economic development update, approval of a contract modification for the DeKoven Juvenile Center electrical project, discussion of the estimated 2025 tax levy, and a detailed conversation about the use of $7.5 million in Monsanto settlement funds.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda (Item 8-2-83) was approved unanimously by voice vote on a motion by Member Clark, seconded by Member Hewitt.

Discussion Items

• Quarterly Economic Development Update (Item 8.4): Kevin Considine, President/CEO of Lake County Partners, reported several wins:

  • Lake County ranked #10 nationwide for economic development by Site Selection magazine, based on job creation, investment, and project activity.
  • AbVie is investing $195 million in its Sheridan Road/North Chicago plant, adding 50 new jobs.
  • Tough-Tite, a maker of PVC/sewer products, will expand in Gurnee, adding 70 new jobs and retaining 175 existing jobs, with a $75 million investment.
  • Flex, a contract manufacturer, has continued to grow, taking additional space in Vernon Hills.
  • Charles Hall Construction broke ground on Fox Lake Crossing Apartments, a new market-rate multifamily complex.
  • Year-to-date (mid-2025): 1,800 new jobs and over $500 million in capital investment.
  • The Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership (GSEP) will seek a one-year extension; it exceeded its goal of 150 regional decisions with 205 achieved.
  • Data center developer T5 has acquired land near the Medline distribution center in Grayslake for up to 8 million square feet of data center space, with ComEd building a new substation.
  • Considine noted that housing remains a critical workforce concern; one school superintendent reported teachers live in Wisconsin or with parents due to high local rents.

• Contract Modification for DeKoven Juvenile Center (Item 8.5): Carl Carrar, Director of Facilities and Construction Services, presented a modification for $299,754.71 to address:

  • An electrical code update requiring grounding connection to the water main.
  • A safety issue (arc flash) due to ComEd mandating a transformer upgrade, which necessitates upsizing breakers.
  • The modification brings the total contract to $2,062,414.03 (24.2% above original). Work is critical to proceeding with the ARPA-funded DEPC project at the same site. The committee voted unanimously to approve.

• Estimated Tax Levy FY2025 (Item 8.6): County Administrator Patrice Sutton explained that state law requires an estimated levy in September. The maximum increase under Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) is 2.9%. The FY2026 budget development policy requires balancing with only half of that (1.45%). Staff recommended presenting the estimated levy at the maximum 2.9% as the most transparent approach, noting the actual levy can be reduced in November. The committee concurred.

• Monsanto Settlement Funds (Item 8.7): Deputy County Administrator Matt Myers presented. Lake County received $7.5 million (the maximum allowable) from a nationwide class-action settlement over PCB contamination. Funds are currently in the general fund with no explicit use restrictions. Staff proposed reserving $2 million for superfund site cleanup and site preparation tied to economic development opportunities. The remaining $5.5 million would be held for future discussion.

  • Committee discussion revealed strong differences: some members (including Chair Hart, Member Hewitt) urged using funds to remediate long-stalled brownfields in lakefront communities (Waukegan, North Chicago, Zion), citing historic environmental injustice. Member Volitzek and others stressed the funds should prioritize water quality and environmental projects. Member Clark expressed concern that building factories would not improve water quality unless accompanied by strict pollution controls. Members Main and Peterson supported targeted, transparent use with a matching requirement to ensure local “skin in the game.”
  • The committee directed staff to bring an action next week to lock the $2 million specifically for superfund site cleanup (language to be defined), and to continue gathering input for a process to allocate the remaining $5.5 million.

• Grocery Tax Discussion (Item 8.8): Staff presented that the state eliminated its 1% grocery tax effective January 1, 2026, but allowed local governments to impose it locally. Lake County currently budgets $6 million in municipal 1% sales tax from unincorporated areas, but only $155,000 of that is from grocery/food items. Staff recommended not implementing the local tax due to the small revenue and regressive nature. The committee agreed unanimously to take no action, allowing the current tax to expire at year-end.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved unanimously.
• Contract modification for DeKoven Juvenile Center electrical project approved ($299,754.71).
• Direction to present estimated tax levy at the maximum 2.9% PTELL rate.
• Staff to bring an action next week to reserve $2 million of Monsanto funds for superfund site remediation; process for remaining $5.5 million to be further developed.
• No action on local grocery tax; current 1% state tax will expire as scheduled.
• Unanimous approval of employee reclassification (position #37017) and settlement authority for case #23CV5945.
• Meeting adjourned after an executive session (personnel matter and pending litigation).