by Sam Borcia
Lake County officials say more than $3 million in federal funds have been eliminated from the county budget that were intended to support critical infrastructure and affordable housing.
The county received notice in mid-March thatmore than $3 million in federally earmarked funds were eliminated from the Fiscal Year 2025 federal budget.
The funds were intended to support critical infrastructure and affordable housing in the county.
Lake County submitted multiple infrastructure and housing initiatives in 2024 through the U.S. House of Representatives’ Community Project Funding (CPF) program.
CPF enables Members of Congress to request direct federal funding for projects that serve local community needs.
U.S. representatives Brad Schneider and Jan Schakowsky selected several Lake County proposals for submission to the House Appropriations Committee, focusing on sewer and water system upgrades and affordable housing.
The proposals received approval at the Appropriations Committee level but when Congress passed a Continuing Resolution in March to avert a government shutdown and extend federal funding through September 30, the legislation included the elimination of all CPF requests nationwide.
Lake County, as a result, lost over $3 million in funding that would have supported sewer and water system improvements in Antioch, Hawthorn Woods and Forest Lake, as well as the creation of an affordable housing hub to serve some of the county’s most vulnerable residents.
County officials say they remain committed to advancing the vital projects despite the setback. The county is evaluating “all available options” to move forward and secure alternative funding.
“It is important, now more than ever, for the County to have strong local, state and federal partnerships,” said John Wasik, Chair of the County’s Legislative Committee and Lake County Board Member for District 6.
“We will continue to fight for every federal, state and local dollar to fund our county services and programs. Everything we do helps our communities be healthy, safe and thrive,” Wasik said.
In addition to the CPF cuts, the Lake County Health Department was informed in late March that the Trump administration was terminating federal grants nationwide that had already been awarded to support work to protect public health.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notified the Illinois Department of Human Services and Illinois Department of Public Health of a statewide reduction totaling $153 million.
The funds help support mental health care, substance use treatment and infectious disease control — services partially delivered through grants to the Lake County Health Department.
The funding elimination has been temporarily halted due to ongoing litigation and a court-issued injunction order, allowing the health department to continue its operations without interruption for the time being.
“These are life-saving programs that support women, children and seniors, help prevent and treat addiction, prevent the spread of infectious diseases and strengthen our communities,” Lake County Health Board President Tim Sashko said.
“The Health Department will continue working closely with the County to ensure that essential services remain accessible to our residents. We must keep advocating for the resources our communities need and deserve,” Sashko said.
Lake County administration said they continue to work with the county’s federal lobbyist in understanding the “current federal funding landscape” and are evaluating potential options in the case of additional federal cuts.
“We are deeply grateful to our congressional delegation for their strong advocacy on behalf of Lake County and our residents,” Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart said.
“Despite these federal funding setbacks and the uncertainty at the federal level, we will continue working with our partners to ensure uninterrupted services and protect the quality of life in our communities,” Hart said.
