Financial and Administrative Committee Meeting - October 8, 2026

The Financial and Administrative Committee of Lake County met on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 8:30 AM. Chair Frank presided. Members present: Clark, Frank, Hewitt, Vice Chair Parak, Peterson, Belitzik. Member Maine was absent. A quorum was established. The committee approved a consent agenda, received an economic development update, considered several resolutions, and reviewed the proposed FY27 budget and a consolidated five-year capital plan. Two executive sessions were held – one to discuss candidates for the ethics commission and another for claims/risk management. The meeting adjourned after approving two settlement authorizations.

Consent Calendar

• Items 10.1 through 10.20 were approved unanimously. Chair Frank noted no items were pulled for discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were received.

Discussion Items

• Lake County Partners Update (Item 10.21) – CEO Kevin Considine reported that 2026 continues to be a strong year, having surpassed the record-setting 2025 total by April. New projects include a 600,000 square foot facility for Learning Resources in Vernon Hills and the return of Jaffa Salads to Lake County. The slide highlighted approximately 770 multifamily housing units in the pipeline. Direct capital investment has increased sharply, though job creation is not keeping pace due to the predominance of housing projects. Considine noted that the county is still short roughly 12,000 housing units, with local zoning being the primary obstacle. He mentioned two lost deals (about 350 jobs) due to inadequate housing. The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is being refreshed in-house, with an unveiling targeted for mid-2027. Upcoming events: Navigate Lake youth career fair (7,700 students registered) and Unlock the Dock government contracting event. The GSEP 2.0 agreement has passed, shifting to a 60% private funding model. Considine also noted that Danish company SoLarge’s project in Waukegan remains active.
• Resolution 10.22 – FY27 Voter Registration Systems Grant – Clerk Vega presented a $637,738 grant from the Illinois State Board of Elections for voter database maintenance and electronic poll books. The grant is higher than expected for an off-year election cycle. Approved.
• Resolution 10.23 – Creation of Grants Fund 201 – CFO Tuzak proposed a new fund to separate grant accounting from operating funds, effective December 1, 2026. Approved.
• Resolution 10.24 – Line Item Transfers for FY26 – Tuzak requested a transfer from contingency to cover DOT fuel and overtime overruns. Approved.
• Resolution 10.25 – Special Revenue Fund for SSA 18 (Delmar Woods) – Created to hold tax proceeds for sanitary sewer operations, replacing the former Delmar Woods Sanitary District. Members praised staff persistence. Approved.
• FY27 Budget Presentation – County Administrator Patrice Sutton and Budget Manager Mike Wheeler presented the recommended budget. Total budget increase: 8%. Property tax operating funds: up 4.9% (property tax limit CPI of 2.7%); capital property tax funds slightly down; special revenue funds up ~11%; internal service funds (health, life, dental) up significantly due to a 20%+ health insurance increase. Personnel costs (wages + benefits) represent 41% of total spending. 31 new program requests (NPRs) totaling ~$6 million were submitted; 11 are fully or partially recommended. The budget includes 2,665 positions (up 7 from FY26). Discussion focused on health insurance cost drivers (national trends, hospital costs, pharmaceuticals, labor shortages) and the impact of potential Medicaid cuts. Budget hearings set for October 20–21; final approval scheduled November 10.
• Consolidated Capital Plan Presentation – Sutton introduced a first-ever comprehensive five-year capital plan totaling over $1 billion. The plan includes projects from Transportation, Public Works, Facilities, IT, Stormwater, Veterans Assistance Commission (new facility ~$23–25 million), and Health Department. Funding sources vary; many departments compete for the same pool. Sutton raised alignment questions (e.g., a DOT building project currently funded by motor fuel tax should likely be in the facilities plan) and sought direction on cost-sharing for multi‑jurisdictional stormwater projects. The committee agreed that projects should be properly categorized. Stormwater requested $11 million; the recommended budget includes $500,000 for design. Further discussion will occur during budget hearings.
• Executive Sessions – Two executive sessions were held: the first to discuss candidates for the ethics commission; the second to discuss claims, loss, or risk management. No public details were disclosed.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda (Items 10.1–10.20) approved unanimously.
• Resolution 10.22 (voter registration grant) approved.
• Resolution 10.23 (grant fund creation) approved.
• Resolution 10.24 (line item transfers) approved.
• Resolution 10.25 (SSA 18 fund) approved.
• Settlement authorizations for cases 230301W029 and 240124W002 (Items 13.1 and 13.2) approved following executive session.
• The FY27 budget presentation was received; budget hearings scheduled for October 20–21, 2026, with final adoption on November 10, 2026.
• The consolidated capital plan was presented for discussion; staff will refine the plan and funding model, with further input during budget hearings.
• Meeting adjourned.