County budget hearings, Pumpkin smash, Drug take back day, and More
Dear Neighbors,
I hope this finds you, family and friends well and relishing our fall weather.
It's been a bustling week with a truck load of important business. Although we're turning the corner in so many ways, we're still in the trenches on COVID. The good news is that our infection rates are flattening out. Our area has one of the lowest rates in the state.
The ongoing challenge is that we're still trying to get to an 80% countywide vaccination rate to achieve what public health scientists call "herd immunity" where the virus is mostly stymied in finding new people to infect.
Although we've given more than 76,000 shots at our county fairgrounds alone, we're calling upon every neighborhood to help. You can now get a shot at nearly every pharmacy and our county health clinics. And while you're at it, get a flu shot. I got mine today. It took minutes. Both shots are essential. The only way to beat these bugs is through vaccines.
Of course, since we're still being impacted by the pandemic, there's much work to do. The county board just voted yesterday to start funding various community programs, financed by a $136 million grant from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. We'll be spending more than $8 million on vaccinations, $6 million on rental/utility assistance, $184,000 for mental health counselors at our county Children's Advocacy Center and $20,000 for eviction mediation program.
Budget News
Beyond our battle with COVID is keeping county government spending flat while providing superior service and updating our facilities. Although we don't vote on our budget until next month, we expect -- and I will support -- a small decrease in the county tax rate.
One of our biggest projects has been in the works for years and was just approved for design; the new home for the 911, emergency operations center, and emergency telephone management center. Along with a countywide facilities master plan, there's unanimous support for bringing our essential county facilities into the 21st century.
On the Forest Preserve side, we approved a $63 million budget for 2022. As usual, our amazing staff held the line on expenses and reaped a $10 million savings by refinancing some bonds. The tax rate for the Forest Preserve -- just 2% of your total tax bill -- will also drop slightly.
Keep in mind, though, that the Forest Preserve and county are doing much more with less. Property values crashed in 2008 and didn't bottom out until 2014. They've never recovered to 2006 levels, which reduces the amount of tax revenue to run our most popular institution.
Fortunately, we're receiving generous donations to our Preservation Foundation, including one constituent who just gave us $30,000 from her IRA. Thanks! Want to help us? Consider donating stock or cash. You can also contribute when you buy through Amazon Smile. There are so many ways to help.
Finally, I want to report some modest victories in our legislative agenda for 2022. This is the basket of proposals we'd like to see passed into law in Springfield and Washington. We have four provisions to help veterans and their families, for example.
Several of the issues we're hoping the General Assembly will help Lake County on include reducing single-use plastics, carpet recycling, prescription take-backs, toxic asphalt sealants and bird-friendly building design.
We'll be working hard to secure state legislation on these and other important issues, but here's where you can help: If you care about any or all of these items (please read our entire legislative agenda), please let your state representative and senator know how you feel. They hear from me all the time since I chair the legislative committee. Yet it makes a big difference if they hear from you. Your voice matters more than ever.
Don't forget to get outside, take a hike on our gorgeous Forest Preserve trails and breathe in that luscious autumn air. It's truly a gift. There's still time to complete the Hike Lake County Challenge. You only have to hike the equivalent of seven trails to get a walking stick shield, dog medallion or zipper pull. Note: My trail buddy Brogan won't let me rest until I hike all of them! Then we'll hike some more in the winter.
As always, it's my honor to serve you. If you have an immediate need for county services, call 2-1-1. I'm always thrilled to speak before any community group.
Be well, be safe,
John
