Lake County Council Approves 2027 Budget Ordinances and Debates Reorganizations on October 13, 2026

On October 13, 2026, the Lake County Council convened for a budget workshop and second reading of the 2027 budget at 2293 N. Main St., Crown Point, IN. The council approved all budget ordinances on second reading, accepted an assessed value of $36,212,967,428, and repealed Ordinance 1430A. It also rejected an assessor reorganization motion and discussed reorganization requests from the coroner and veterans services offices. All votes passed 6–0 with one member absent, except for the assessor motion, which failed.

Consent Calendar and Routine Approvals

• Approved a weights and measures position salary reduction to $34,013 (department 5005).
• Approved a legal services reduction of approximately $210,000, resulting in about $300,000 in total cuts across the two actions.
• Approved on second reading: the tax levy ordinance (OR-1), appropriations ordinance (OR-2), salary ordinance (OR-3), longevity ordinance (OR-4), uniform clothing allowance ordinance (OR-5), per diem expense ordinance (OR-6), Lake Ridge Fire budget (OR-7), Lake County Solid Waste budget (OR-8), Crown Point Library budget (OR-9), and the mental health fund distribution resolution (R-1).
• Approved the 2027 assessed value of $36,212,967,428.00 and the 16-line statement for funds, levies, and rates.
• Suspended rules and adopted on second reading an ordinance repealing Ordinance 1430A (the 2019 procedure for approving transfers within major budget classifications).

Public Comments & Testimony

• The Lake Ridge Fire Chief asked whether his department’s requested $350,000 increase was included in the district’s approved $1.6 million budget (up from $1.4 million the prior year). Council members replied that this allocation decision belongs to the fire district, and he should raise the issue at its meeting.

Discussion Items

• Assessor reorganization: Assessor Latanya requested elimination of one position (~$48,000 salary) and redistribution of those funds to staff, including varied salary increases. Council members debated whether combining this with the already-approved 4% across-the-board raise was appropriate and suggested splitting savings with the general fund. The motion failed.
• Coroner reorganization: Coroner David presented a plan to eliminate the level system and pay all deputy coroners equally at $56,696, requiring an additional $6,464 per deputy. He also requested funds for training and a raise for the chief deputy. No vote was taken.
• Veterans services: Jason requested dissolving a $48,000 position to raise his salary from $63,164 to $79,000 and two assistant VSO salaries from $48,576 to $54,000, producing estimated taxpayer savings of $27,832. Council members raised concerns about percentage increases and document control; no motion was made.
• Policy discussion: Council members discussed a potential formal policy that would return 50% of eliminated-position salaries to the general fund and avoid raises on long-vacant positions, but no resolution was adopted.

Key Outcomes

• All second-reading ordinances and the repeal ordinance passed 6–0 with one member absent.
• The assessor’s reorganization motion failed; coroner and veterans reorganization requests were not approved.
• No reorganization policy was adopted; council members indicated future requests need clearer documentation.