Jill Raizin: 2025 candidate for Lincolnshire village board

Bio

Office Sought: Lincolnshire village board (Vote for 3)

City: Lincolnshire

Age: 72

Occupation: Retired marketing and public relations

Previous offices held: Trustee, village of Lincolnshire

What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the village board respond to it?

Like many cities, Lincolnshire’s most pressing challenge is aging infrastructure and watershed management — specifically, ensuring clean and safe water delivery while mitigating flooding risks caused by stormwater drainage issues. These challenges are exacerbated by climate change, increased urbanization, and the need to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability.

The Des Plaines River watershed impacts Lincolnshire, and with more intense storms, flood-prone areas in residential neighborhoods could have seen worsening conditions.

Instead, the village board responded proactively by hosting community listening sessions to ensure residents felt heard on this issue, doing a drainage study that identified areas of concern throughout the village, and approving a stormwater utility fee in 2022 to fund 20 years of vital storm sewer improvements.

I am committed to continuing this responsible approach to ensure our systems are safe, reliable, efficient, and ready for the future.

How would you describe the state of your community's finances? What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years? Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed?

Sound budgeting, steady economic development, and careful planning make Lincolnshire’s finances strong. I’m proud of our low debt levels, strong bond rating, and track record of balanced budgets. We provide essential services while keeping the tax burden in check.

Lincolnshire has the lowest municipal tax rate in Lake County, and our police pension is funded at 90%, one of the highest in the state. However, we must remain fiscally responsible to plan wisely.

Spending priorities should focus on improving infrastructure, maintaining our high-quality public services, and ensuring Lincolnshire remains a great place to live and do business. That also includes roads, public safety, and smart economic development.

We regularly review our budget to see where we can reduce costs without sacrificing essential services. We always consider cost-sharing opportunities, streamlining operations, and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent effectively to keep Lincolnshire’s finances strong.

What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

The most critical projects are ensuring clean, safe water delivery and addressing flooding and stormwater management issues. With increasingly severe weather, stormwater drainage is a significant concern and aging water infrastructure must be upgraded.

In 2022, we enacted a storm sewer utility fee to cover 20 years of necessary improvements. We used municipal bonds to help fund this major capital project. We also received state grants to reduce local costs. In 2024, $2.5 million of the $4 million spent was from state funds.

In anticipation of changes in state and federal support, future uncertainty was factored into our calculations.

Our approach focuses on projects that protect public health, safety, and economic stability without stretching our budget unnecessarily. We must continue investing in essential infrastructure but need to be smart about prioritizing projects.

As part of our annual capital planning process, we review each project to see if it is a priority or can be deferred.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board.

As a two-term trustee, I’ve worked closely with fellow trustees, staff, residents, and business leaders to find common ground and implement policies that balance economic growth, improve infrastructure, promote fiscal responsibility, and preserve Lincolnshire’s character.

I believe the best decisions come from thoughtful discussion and diverse perspectives. To that end, I welcome input from residents, local businesses, and experts in the field.

I take pride in being able to navigate different perspectives to forge agreements that serve the greater good. My approach is to listen first, analyze the facts, and work toward consensus-driven solutions that reflect our community’s best interests.

At the same time, I understand that leadership requires making tough choices, and I am not afraid to make difficult, but necessary decisions when they benefit Lincolnshire.

Lincolnshire’s village board has a history of working collaboratively, and I will continue to foster that environment.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

Experience, leadership, and commitment to serving our community make me the best candidate. I have a strong record of working collaboratively to balance economic growth, maintain fiscal responsibility, and improve infrastructure while keeping Lincolnshire the welcoming community where I raised my family. I understand the challenges and opportunities we face, and I have delivered results that benefit our residents and businesses.

During 30-plus years in Lincolnshire, I’ve worked to strengthen our village by taking on leadership roles in many village volunteer organizations. If re-elected, I will continue to be your voice and give back to the community with commitment, compassion, and leadership.

Some of my experience includes Lincolnshire Community Association president, 4th of July chair, Village Club board, Garden Club vice president, PTO committee chair, Scout leader, Riverside Women’s board president, chair of Stevenson’s Odyssey Fine Arts Festival, and a career in marketing and PR.

What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

In 2024, the board adopted a new comprehensive plan to guide the next 10 years of economic growth and development. But developments take years.

Besides looking at future opportunities, we should consider ways to reinvigorate Lincolnshire’s community spirit now. Residents tell me they still feel isolation post-COVID and from working at home.

They enjoy celebrations like the 4th of July, Boofest, Lincolnshire Lights, Run for District 103 and more, because they feel they are the glue that brings all residents together for a common cause, benefit the community, and add to the quality of life.

Let’s empower more voices to influence village decision-making by considering new ways to connect and communicate. What about quarterly listening sessions to exchange information and ideas, like the popular open houses that shaped our comprehensive plan and infrastructure priorities? Or fostering connections between area businesses and community groups? Or a Lincolnshire pride social media campaign?