Title
Ordinance proposing the dissolution of the Slocum Lake Drainage District.
Staff Summary
• Slocum Lake Drainage District is a Drainage District covering parts of the Villages of Lake Barrington, Port Parrington, Wauconda and unincorporated Lake County, and generates revenue via a tax levy.
• The District derives its revenue from a $14 annual maintenance assessment placed upon the tax bills of the properties within the District boundaries, with the total tax generating around $10,500 annually.
• The County has determined that the functions of the District can be as or more efficiently performed by either the municipalities or township within the District, either independently or in cooperation with each other and Lake County Stormwater Management Commission, such that the continuing existence of the District is no longer necessary
• This “Proposing Ordinance,” uses the authority granted from State Statute 55 ILCS 5/5-44025 to initiate the dissolution process and require that the District complete an audit detailing claims, receipts, inventory of property, and debts. The audit will be reported to the County Board, and at a subsequent meeting staff will return with a separate “Authorizing Ordinance” under 55 ILCS 5/5-44025, which will initiate the next steps in the District’s dissolution.
• The dissolution process, following Board action on the Authorizing Ordinance, is approximately six months.
Body
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, the Slocum Lake Drainage District (“District”) is a Drainage District covering parts of the Villages of Lake Barrington, Port Barrington, Wauconda and unincorporated Lake County; and
WHEREAS, the District derives its revenue from a $14 annual maintenance assessment placed upon the tax bills of properties within the District’s boundaries, with the total tax generating around $10,500 annually; and
WHEREAS, other than its annual tax revenue, the District, which is made up of three trustees appointed by the County Board, possesses no known interests in property, whether real or personal; and
WHEREAS, the County has determined that the functions of the District can be as or more efficiently performed by either the municipalities or township within the District, either independently or in cooperation with each other and Lake County Stormwater Management Commission, such that the continuing existence of the District is no longer necessary; and
WHEREAS, under the Counties Code of the Illinois Compiled Statutes, specifically 55 ILCS 5/5-44025, the Lake County Board may, by ordinance, propose the dissolution of a unit of local government, such as the District; and
WHEREAS, the ordinance shall detail the purpose and cost savings to be achieved by such dissolution and be published in a newspaper of general circulation served by the unit of local government, and on the county’s website.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, that the Board of the County of Lake proposes the dissolution of the Slocum Lake Drainage District.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the County Board proposes that, under the provisions of 55 ILCS 5/5-44025, the Slocum Lake Drainage District be dissolved, and its functions devolved to the municipalities and township that overlap with its territory; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that costs inherent in operating the District are the administrative costs that the District incurs annual to maintain its existence as a municipal entity, as well as those costs associated with the work performed by County staff, including the staff of the County Clerk and Treasurer, to levy for taxes each year. Dissolving the District will eliminate these costs and residents of the District will no longer have a levy for the District on their property tax bills; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that upon passage of this ordinance, the County will work with the District to have an audit performed detailing all claims against the District, its receipts, an inventory of the real and personal property it owns or controls, and any debts owed by it. After the audit is reported to the County Board, the Board will adopt a separate “authorizing ordinance,” as set forth in 55 ILCS 5/5-44025, and thereafter petition the Circuit Court for an order designating a trustee-in-dissolution for the District.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on August 13, 2024.