The Lake County board adopted a balanced $496 million budget for the next fiscal year at its Nov. 10 meeting.
The new budget is $7 million less than last year's budget and focuses the majority of its spending on courts, public safety, health and transportation.
The county will retain 25 fewer staff positions in 2016 than 2015, continuing a trend over the past decade where the county's staffing level has dropped 13 percent.
County officials cited several reasons for the balanced budget, including long-term planning and spending its cash resources on large capital projects that would typically be funded by taking on debt. Instead, only 3 percent of the 2016 budget is allocated for debt services.
At the same time, the county also draws income from a variety of sources, not making it reliable on any one revenue stream. Of those sources, property tax is about one third. The county tax levy will not increase in 2016.
The county said it's also saving money from its shared service agreements for building inspection services and sheriff's patrols.
Residents can view a video presentation of the budget on lakecounty.tv.
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