Title
Joint resolution authorizing an emergency appropriation of $98,000 from the State’s Attorney’s Office (SAO) Asset Forfeiture fund to reimburse the General Fund for salary and fringe costs for certain employees through November 30, 2026.
Staff Summary
• The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office requests the allocation of $98,000 from its Asset Forfeiture fund to pay for 6 percent of ten Assistant State’s Attorneys’ salaries and fringe that handle related cases.
• The Asset Forfeiture fund has a current cash balance of $291,000.
• The reason for this request is to alleviate some of the burden on the General Fund.
o Some of the funds not expended from the General Fund will be used to cover salary and fringe for our Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) Director.
o The SAO is waiting on a grant budget modification to be approved for the Illinois Innocence Project.
o The SAO is a subgrantee on this grant and we expect this approval within the next couple of months.
• The estimated salary costs of the CIU Director are $72,000 and fringe costs of $10,000 through November 30, 2026.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office (SAO) has an Asset Forfeiture fund established by fees related to asset forfeitures based on applicable law; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office will use these funds to cover salary and benefits for 6 percent of ten FTE staff members; and
WHEREAS, the SAO requests an emergency appropriation from the Asset Forfeiture fund in the amount of $98,000 to cover 6 percent of salary and fringe expenses for ten Assistant State’s Attorneys (ASAs) through November 30, 2026, and an emergency appropriation of $82,000 to cover salary and fringe of the Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) Director through November 30, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the dollars from Asset Forfeiture will be transferred to the General Fund on a monthly basis based on actual salary/fringe expenses.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that $98,000 is to be appropriated from the Asset Forfeiture fund balance as identified by the attached budget; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that $82,000 is to be appropriated from the General fund balance as identified by the attached budget; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chair of the Board, the Lake County State’s Attorney, and the Lake County Treasurer are hereby authorized to allow these emergency appropriations.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on December 9, 2025.