Lake County committees approve FY2026 recommended budgets; ask F&A to weigh larger requests

Lake County’s Health & Community Services and Finance committees met in a joint session Oct. 21 to review and act on the County Administrator’s recommended FY2026 budgets.

Committees approved the administrator’s recommended funding for several large departments and programs, including a $8.99 million workforce development budget, a $5.16 million community development (HUD) package, a $1.2 million video‑gaming revenue fund (amended to reflect a policy change raising the retained balance from $800,000 to $825,000), the opioid settlement grant program and the county health department’s budget. The Veterans Assistance Commission reported that VAC advocacy brought an estimated $29.7 million in new VA benefits to Lake County residents so far in 2025; the committee accepted the VAC’s adopted budget.

Why it matters: The budgets approved at committee are the administrator’s recommended funding levels heading to the full board; several larger new program requests were left for a later decision or scenario‑two funding (allowed if the county’s final property‑tax scenario changes). Committees repeatedly warned that federal grant quantities — especially HUD entitlement amounts and certain DOJ or federal grant streams — remain uncertain and will affect final allocations in 2026.

Key program decisions and follow‑ups - Workforce Development: The department’s $8.99 million recommended budget was approved. The increase was driven largely by methodological changes (bringing WIOA funds into the annual budget) and by higher formula funding from the U.S. Department of Labor; committees noted the department’s high proportion of federal support and requested continued contingency planning. The SkillBridge and summer youth programs were highlighted for significant participant spending. - Community Development (HUD): The FY2026 recommendation of $5.16 million, largely representing HOME/CDBG/ESG entitlement dollars, was approved. Staff noted an affordable‑housing pipeline leveraging ARPA funds and tax credits; committees and staff will track federal allocations for program year 2026, which typically arrive after the county’s schedule. - Video‑gaming revenue fund: Committees approved the $1.2 million projection and a policy amendment moving the retained amount in that fund from $800,000 to $825,000; the additional $25,000 is earmarked for 2‑1‑1 information/referral capacity and related set‑asides. - Opioid settlement fund: Committees approved the administrator’s recommended grant program increase (FY2026 grant line increased by $200,000 over the prior year). Staff reported roughly $4–9 million in funds received to date and noted Purdue‑related funds remain outstanding; spending strategy aims for multi‑year, evidence‑based investments. - Health Department: The FY2026 presentation noted a blended employee health‑premium increase and ongoing uncertainty in federal grants. The Health Department plans to reopen its substance‑use withdrawal‑management unit and pursue value‑based contracts with insurers to improve revenue and care outcomes.

Public safety and technology - Sheriff and corrections: Committees discussed jail population, staffing shortages and reliance on temporary housing contracts with McHenry County. The sheriff sought new hiring to help manage a sharp increase in active warrants following statutory bail changes; committees approved several recommended positions and capital requests. Committees also reviewed a sheriff/EMA proposal for countywide radio replacements and an interior body‑scanner for the booking process; staff asked for procurement timing and warranty details prior to implementation. - Courts and ICMS: Judges and court administrators discussed moving from contractor‑led ICMS maintenance toward in‑house program management. A program manager position was recommended; courts and county staff said AOIC offered one‑time monies that could help fund a second analyst but that any use of unexpected FY2025 funds will require a separate appropriation action. - State’s Attorney requests: The State’s Attorney highlighted the county’s Gun Violence Prevention Initiative (GVPI), describing measurable reductions in shootings in targeted communities and a continuing need for sustained funding; the committee flagged GVPI and a cyber‑forensics lab request as priorities for F&A review in the next round because state and federal grants remain uncertain.

Other notes and finance items - Circuit Clerk operations account: The Clerk described a recently created circuit‑clerk operations bank account that collected fees historically handled in the general fund. The clerk requested an Attorney‑General opinion on permissible uses of the account; committees approved the clerk’s FY2026 budget and asked county staff and the clerk to share the AG request and the planned budgeting approach so members could track use of the account and any planned disbursements. - Veterans Assistance Commission: VAC leaders outlined the commission’s outreach, reporting that VAC advocacy has brought millions in new federal benefits and serving hundreds of veterans with emergency and case‑management support. The VAC is planning a public capital campaign to build a dedicated facility and asked the county to maintain current operating support.

Votes at a glance (selected committee approvals) - Workforce Development recommended budget (8.h.1): approved in committee. - Community Development / HUD recommended budget (8.h.2): approved in committee. - Video‑gaming revenue fund (8.h.3) and policy amendment to raise retained balance to $825,000: approved in committee. - Opioid Settlement Fund budget (8.h.4): approved in committee. - Health Department and associated funds: approved in committee. - Coroner, Sheriff, Public Defender, Circuit Clerk, Merit Commission and other departmental budgets presented Oct. 21: committees approved the administrator‑recommended budgets where indicated during the hearing and recorded in the minutes.

What’s next Committee chairs agreed to carry several large items into the next day of hearings for final committee action: items remaining included several public‑safety NPRs, the county administrator GOE items not yet heard, and technology and capital requests. The Finance & Administration committee will review scenario‑2 requests (those that would require additional property‑tax capacity) including the GVPI and cyber‑forensics requests and will be asked to prioritize remaining NPRs for the board’s final consideration.

Tapered ending Committee members repeatedly urged staff to bring clearer, auditable breakdowns of federal grant dependencies (HUD/HHS/Department of Labor, DOJ) and to return any AG or legal opinions (circuit‑clerk operations fund) to the F&A committee so the full Board can consider policy changes or appropriations with full legal context. The hearings reconvened the following day for additional budgets and deliberations.