Lake County Officials Need Help Closing 2013 Budget Shortfall

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Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub says he has talked with Porter County Treasurer Mike Bucko about borrowing up to $15.5 million to keep his county's spending at current levels. Lake officials are facing declining tax revenues and higher operational costs. They passed a balanced 2013 budget, only by severely cutting spending and borrowing to make up the difference.  Porter County is looking for ways to invest $173 million it received from the sale of a hospital to a private health care firm.