County unveils five‑year plan for infrastructure sales tax funds, projects include parks and public safety

Lake County staff presented a five‑year plan Aug. 12 for the county’s infrastructure sales tax, projecting revenues and allocating funding across public safety, quality‑of‑life parks, public works and related debt service. Allison Teslia, director of the Office of Management and Budget, told commissioners the county is using a conservative 3.25 percent annual growth assumption. The five‑year projection is roughly $134 million, including a carryforward balance for fiscal 2026. Key budgeted items include public safety equipment and station renovations; sheriff and medical‑transport vehicles; regional park projects at South Lake and Golden Triangle; Eastlake sports and community complex funding; FDOT grant matches for road projects; and smaller allocations for IT, fleet and facilities. Teslia said the plan anticipates $36.6 million over five years for public safety projects and $45 million for parks and recreation projects. Public works allocations include roughly $4.1 million for FDOT grant matches in fiscal 2026 and $2 million for road resurfacing and intersection improvements. The plan also sets aside funding for debt service on prior projects paid from the sales tax proceeds. Teslia said the public hearings required by the sales‑tax policy will continue at the Aug. 26 public hearing and in September during budget hearings. Commissioners asked several technical and programmatic questions, including FDOT matching contributions and whether project funding could be reallocated to address urgent road needs. Staff said allocations are projections, that schedules and matches will be tracked, and that more detailed project timelines and grant match explanations will be provided as part of the public hearing packet. Why it matters: The five‑year plan maps how voter‑approved infrastructure sales tax proceeds will be used locally for parks, roads and public safety. It also signals priorities for grant matches and capital projects that affect growth and services. What happens next: A public hearing will be held Aug. 26, and the five‑year plan will be part of the county’s September public hearings on the FY2026 budget.