By Brian Massie, A Watchman on the Wall
Ryan Konrad, Councilman of Timberlake, expresses his concerns to other Lake County Council Members about the proposed alternate solution submitted by the Lake County Budget Commission’s Ad Hoc Committee.
The attached worksheet provided by the Auditor is not correct because at the last minute the Ad Hoc Committee agreed to give Lake Metroparks $100,000 per year from the Local Government Funds. In our opinion, the Lake Metroparks should not get any distribution from the local government funds. They have .1 mills of inside millage. They will get an estimated $174,000 annually in additional property tax, without a vote of the people, because of the estimated 30% increase in property taxes in 2024, to be collected in 2025. Also, Lake Metroparks has $30 million in their “rainy day fund”.
Voting on an issue without the final numbers from the Auditor does not seem appropriate to us.
Dear Esteemed Council Members,
I am writing to you today to express my deep concern regarding the resolution to ratify the alternative formula for the allocation of the Local Government Fund (LGF). As a resident of Lake County and a neighbor of your community, I urge you to carefully reconsider the implications of these changes and advocate for a fair distribution that benefits all municipalities within our region.
It has come to my attention that under the proposed plan, 14 out of the 22 communities in our area stand to lose funding or see no increase in their allocation from the LGF. In fact, those communities that see no increase will lose out on any growth in the fund. Furthermore, the proposed resolution has no sunset clause, therefore if we ratify it we will essentially be approving this alternate formula indefinitely. Such a significant reduction in resources could have severe repercussions for essential services and infrastructure projects in our communities, ultimately impacting the financial health of our communities and the quality of life of our residents.
As elected representatives entrusted with the well-being of our communities, I implore you to take action to ensure that all communities receive their fair share of the LGF. Every municipality deserves adequate funding to maintain essential services, support local initiatives, and foster community development. By advocating for equitable distribution, we can promote the prosperity and vitality of our entire region.
I urge you to engage in dialogue with fellow council members, community leaders, and relevant stakeholders to understand and address this issue promptly. I have affixed the most recent spreadsheet from the mayors and managers ad hoc committee, detailing the financial projections to FY2034, that was not included with the resolution before you. Furthermore, I have affixed the estimated statutory formula distributions that were provided by our Lake County Auditor, carried out to FY2034. This would be the distribution that would take effect in 2025, should this proposed alternate formula resolution not pass in 12 of the 22 remaining Lake County communities. Together, we can work towards a solution that upholds the principles of fairness and equity, ensuring that no community is left behind in our pursuit of progress and prosperity.
If I omitted any interested parties please feel free to forward this email. Please feel free to reach out should you have any questions or would like additional information. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I trust in your commitment to serving the best interests of all residents of this wonderful county we call home.
Best Wishes,
Ryan R. Konrad
Councilperson – Village of Timberlake
Categories: Lake County - General, Lake County Politics