Lake County Weighing Budget Options with Another Shortfall Possible

Lake County commissioners are continuing to hear budget requests from County officials, as the commission works toward approval of a 2025 county budget. On Tuesday, the commissioners heard from Highway Superintendent Tim Tolley and Operations Manager Michelle Uhrig, regarding the Road & Bridge Fund. In 2024 the Road & Bridge Fund had a total budget of just over 2 million, 176 thousand dollars. That’s the second largest fund in the budget, after the general fund, and significantly larger than any department in the county government. 

The fund was reduced in 2024 from 2023, as the county tried to balance the overall budget without depleting reserves. That led to no overlay work in the county for 2024. Preliminary budget estimates for 2025 show the county could have to use as much as 700-thousand dollars of reserves, which had led to talks of limited overlay of roads again in 2025. That’s a disappointing outcome for the county, says commissioner Adam Leighton. 

Voters in Lake County reject a proposed 2-point 8 million dollar opt out in 2023. The opt out had been passed by the Lake County Commission, in an effort to prevent cuts to the county budget. 

The County will present the first reading of a 2025 proposed budget in September.