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Where the Money Comes From The bulk of your property tax payment goes to schools. Lake County receives only 7%. Where the Money Goes 3% 7% LAKE COUNTY 28% Elections & Records Public Works & Transportation 9% CITIES Only 1/3 of the County’s budget comes from property taxes. The rest comes from sales and income taxes, and miscellaneous sources like grants, charges for services, (like water bills), and payments from other governments. County’s Budget 29% 68% SCHOOLS 25% Judicial & Public Safety Health & Community Services Other Revenue Property Taxes 3% TOWNSHIPS 3% PARKS 2% 3% FOREST PRESERVES 3% FIRE 4% OTHER County Board BUDGET PROCESS Your 21 elected county board members are responsible for adopting the budget, appropriation, and levy ordinances. The budget provides funding for all county departments. Early in the process, the Board adopts policies that guide the development of the budget. For example, the policies require the County to maintain strong reserves. You You can testify at a public hearing before the county board adopts the budget every November. You can also provide input to county board members at any stage in the process, and provide input into the strategic plan during the 2013 community forums. Budget Process The County’s FY2013 Budget is $485 million Finance & Administration The County Board also adopts a strategic plan that guides po licy and budget decisions. The budget is a road map to how the County sets its spending priorities. There are key players for each step in the budget process. We Balance Our Budget Every Year 13% Planning, Building & Zoning County Departments All departments review and analyze their expenditures and revenue, and submit new requests annually. These are vetted by the finance team and county administrator. Departments also work every day to ensure services are efficient, cost-effective, and align with the strategic plan. County Administrator/ Finance & Administration The county administrator works with the finance team to develop the budget, and they provide oversight of the budget all year long. The county administrator is also responsible for developing the strategic plan and ensuring the strategic priorities and policies of the County Board are implemented.