Despite bounty of new taxes, Lake County debt looms large

CROWN POINT | Lake County could be on the receiving end of an $18 million tax windfall next year.

Impending Lake Co. income tax veto frightens off spending spree

CROWN POINT | Austerity fell like a ton of bricks Thursday morning on Lake County officials as they contemplated running county government without a county income tax.

Lake income tax vaguely promises property tax relief

CROWN POINT | Lake County officials insist a local income tax scheduled for a vote Monday would bring property tax relief — but not to all and not a dollar-for-dollar reduction.

Lake County Council refuses E-911 call plan until they know the price tag

CROWN POINT | The Lake County Council put the E-911 merger on hold Tuesday until its staffs can estimate how much a unified emergency communications system would cost the county and where to find the money.

Lowell may join county's E-911 system

CROWN POINT | Lake County officials are set to vote Tuesday on taking over the town of Lowell's emergency fire and police communications network.

Lake council OKs selling bonds to borrow millions

CROWN POINT | To keep county government and all its services running next year, the Lake County Council approved the sale of millions of dollars in bonds during a marathon meeting Tuesday.

Lake councilman hopes to make borrowing difficult

CROWN POINT | Lake officials will begin writing procedures on how to spend the $15 million they will borrow next year as carefully and transparently as possible.

Lake Co. budget ax comes down hard on bridge and ditch work, not parks

CROWN POINT | The Lake County Council balked Tuesday at closing county parks, but voted to sacrifice $5.7 million in future highway bridge and flood control work and liability insurance coverage to begin balancing its 2013 budget.

Lake officials say no to new taxes, yes to borrowing and cuts

CROWN POINT | A committee of Lake County Council members is recommending budget cuts and borrowing, but no local income tax.

To tax or borrow? Lake officials ponder next step

CROWN POINT | Lake County officials aren't fighting to be first in line to either borrow or impose a new tax to balance county government's 2013 budget.

Lake County Council gives initial OK to wishful 2013 budget

CROWN POINT | The Lake County Council's vote Monday on a 2013 county government budget was more an act of optimism than a hard-headed spending plan.

Lake council talks tough to cities and towns

CROWN POINT | Lake County Council members are leaning on town and city officials to help with a looming $20 million deficit.

Lake County budget adviser recommends borrowing more

CROWN POINT | Lake County officials might need a $20 million loan to meet their ever-rising spending plans.

Lake County budget makers looking for money

CROWN POINT | Members of the Lake County Council will have seven weeks to brainstorm a $15 million solution to a 2013 budget, which promises to be unbalanced by too little revenue and too many spending demands.

EDITORIAL: Lake County Council is ignoring fiscal realities

The Lake County Council could use some serious financial counseling. The council is considering a loan to cover an anticipated $15 million hole in its budget next year.

Lake Council members say they can't tax their way out of budget crisis

CROWN POINT | Lake County Council members insisted Thursday a local option income tax can't lift county government out of the anticipated $15 million hole next year.

Lake officials buy financial advice to solve budget gap

CROWN POINT | Lake County commissioners hired a Merrillville financial adviser Wednesday to study how to fill a potential $15 million hole in county government's 2012 and 2013 budget.