Lakewood Battens Down the Hatches

In its winter newsletter, the Village of Lakewood talks of “this unprecedented downturn,” while encouraging “you to support the existing businesses in our community.”

Presumably, village elders are seeking sales tax revenue from the very few retail establishments in the village.

It’s explained that capital projects like roads, sewer and water mains, are financed by one-time revenues like utility tap-on fees for new homes.

Because of the economy, “nearly all infrastructure projects have been deferred until the number of housing starts increases.”

Property and sales taxes “are used for ongoing expenditures (Police and Fire services). Therefore, there will be few or no changes in the day-to-day services provided to you by the Village of Lakewood,” the newsletter says.

And, in a candid mode that I have seen few, if any other tax districts use, realistic information is given about taxes. The main article’s author assumes a $400,000 home price and calculates that such a homeowner would pay $9,000 in real estate taxes.

Of that, 13% or about $1,200 would go to the Village of Lakewood. Of that, 60% goes to public safety. 24% to public works, 5% for building code enforcement and 12% for administration.

Less salt will be used this year, it is revealed later in the newsletter. “Unprecedented cost increases, short supply and negative environmental impacts” are cited as reasons.

Those wishing to run for election in the April 7th elections either in Lakewood or any other municipality besides Woodstock and Crystal Lake need to file petitions between January 19 and 26th. Petitions may be obtained at your village hall or, if you don’t want them to know you are running, drop me an email and I’ll pick up a set for you.

There a ridiculously low number of signatures needed to get on the ballot. It’s 5% to 8% of those who voted in the last village election (or up to 50 more than the 5% minimum number).

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The egret was found on the tree with hangs out over Crystal Lake next to the boat pier at Gate 9.


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