Lake Michigan Water Project News

This page is dedicated to providing the community with updates on the milestones of bringing Lake Michigan water to the Village.

  • March 2024 - The Village Board unanimously approved the formal Admissions Agreement with the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency, legally binding the Village as a full member of the CLCJAWA Board of Directors. The Village Board also approved an agreement with CDM Smith for a Lake Michigan water source route study that will analyze various corridors to lay the infrastructure that will connect Lake Zurich to CLCJAWA. 
  • March 2024 - The Village Board also unanimously approved the wording of a referenda question to be put on the November 5, 2024, General Election ballot asking Lake Zurich voters to increase the local Non-Home Rule Sales Tax from 0.5% to 1%, with the increased revenue to be used to fund the costs of transitioning to Lake Michigan as the community’s potable water supply. Approximately 40% of current sales taxes are generated by nonresidents, contributing toward infrastructure investments that benefit the entire community.
  • June 2024 - The Village Board unanimously appointed Mayor Poynton to the board of the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency as director for a 2-year term. Trustee William Riley was appointed as the alternate director.
  • August 2024 - The Governor signed HB3144 giving Illinois non-home rule municipalities the authority to enact an up to 1% local sales tax on general merchandise by local ordinance. The referenda question was subsequently withdrawn from the November 2024 ballot.
  • September 2024 - The Village Board approved an increase in the non-home rule sales tax by 0.5% to a total rate of 1.0% effective January 1st, 2025. This generates about $2.5 million annually, which will be used to fund the Lake Michigan project-related expenses.
  • December 2024 - The Village Board approves the new and lower LMW funding charges of upcoming water bills. The funding schedule was projected to introduce a $3 per 1,000 gallons fee starting in January 2024 and each year thereafter. The revised schedule lowers the fee in 2025 and 2026 to $1.50. The LMR funding charges in January 2025 would have been $6 per 1,000 gallons and instead will be $4.50 per 1,000 gallons

CLCJAWA Project Overview

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