Lake makes wish list for tax revenue

The Daily Commercial - October 10, 2001
By JASON DEHART
Daily Commercial Staff Writer

Lake County Commissioners now have a ambitious wish list of things they would like to do over the next 15 years with the proceeds from the penny sales tax which they hope will be renewed this fall.

Approximately $19 million would be generated by the tax each year and it would be split between the county commission, cities and the Lake County School Board, which intends on using its share to rebuild five high aging high schools. Lake County Commissioner Debbie Stivender said that over the next 15 years the county’s $6 million slice of the pie could bring in up to $170 million.

“Over 15 years with a 5 percent growth rate it would be $156 million but at a 6 percent growth rate it would be plus or minus $170 million,” Stivender said.

Half of the county’s share of the tax would be spent on 53 road improvement projects at a cost of more than $89 million. Another $20 million would be spent to resurface existing roads and $2 million on adding sidewalks throughout the county.

Other plans involve not so much asphalt. About $2 million would be spent annually to buy environmentally sensitive lands. Another $4.5 million would be used to upgrade the Lake County Fairgrounds and Expo Center. Other plans call for six community centers to be built in various parts of the county at a total cost of about $5.1 million.

Parks, libraries, improving citizen access to government and enhanced security are on the list also. Plans call for $6 million to be spent building a government annex in the south end of the county. And $35 million would go the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the county court system.

All of this, however, is just wishful thinking at the moment. The issue will be decided in a referendum scheduled for Nov. 6.

As the days tick down to the vote, officials are traveling throughout the county courting votes from private citizens and chambers of commerce.

“There’s been very little negative feedback. So far all the speaking engagements have been positive,” said Stivender, who sits on a steering committee set up to publicize the tax.

“People understand that this is an existing tax and that we won’t be creating something new. They are glad to support it as long as we watch how we spend it this time, and they feel comfortable about an oversight committee.”