Forest district budget includes habitat restoration, reservoir expansion
The Lake County Forest Preserve District board Tuesday approved a balanced, $112.6 million budget covering spending and revenue through December 2019.
The budget is significantly beefier than usual because it's an 18-month plan, rather than a traditional 12-month outlook. The extra months were needed because forest district administrators are changing when their fiscal year begins and ends.
Historically, the district's fiscal year has begun July 1 and ended June 30. Starting in 2020, the fiscal year will begin Jan. 1 and end Dec. 31.
As such, the new budget covers half of 2018 and all of 2019.
Officials say aligning the fiscal year with the calendar year will allow for better tax revenue forecasting and financial planning for activities and construction projects.
"Currently, our summer programs are split between two fiscal years," said Ty Kovach, the district's executive director. "And we should have fewer carry-overs for capital constructions."
Although the new budget is bigger than its predecessor, average spending per month is down.
The previous 12-month budget predicted an estimated $91.7 million in spending, or $7.6 million per month. The new budget predicts a monthly spending average of less than $6.3 million.
Officials credited the decrease to projected reductions in spending on capital projects.
The new budget includes money for efforts such as:
• Coastal habitat restoration at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve near Highland Park.
• The design and implementation of a reservoir expansion at Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve near Buffalo Grove.
• Environmental restoration efforts at Grassy Lake Forest Preserve near Lake Barrington and Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve near Deer Park.
• Various trail resurfacing and repair projects.
• The development of a master plan for the Oriole Grove Forest Preserve near Lake Bluff.
• The development of strategies to reintroduce species including the smooth green snake, the spotted salamander and the meadow jumping mouse to the county's preserves.
• The removal of invasive and hazardous trees along the Des Plaines River and Millennium trails, which run through the county.
Cost estimates were not immediately available for these individual projects.
Officials predict they'll collect about $112.6 million in taxes, grants, golf revenue, fees and other sources to cover expenses.
"With this balanced budget, we will continue to maintain our strong financial position," forest board President Ann Maine, a Lincolnshire Republican, said in a news release. "It also allows us to remain committed to protecting our resources and providing high quality education and outdoor recreation in an environmentally and fiscally responsible way."