Security. Accountability. Trust.
Sandy Hart's platform for Lake County Treasurer, built on 14 years of proven fiscal stewardship on the Lake County Board.
What does the Lake County Treasurer actually do?
Three core responsibilities — and the foundation for everything on this page.
Manages the billing, collection, and distribution of real estate taxes to every taxing district in Lake County.
Safeguards and properly invests County funds — prioritizing safety of principal first, prudent diversification, and proper liquidity.
Oversees the County's financial systems, ensuring they're accurate, secure, and accessible.
Security
Making sure the money Lake County has been entrusted with is never at risk.
Protecting every dollar Lake County has been entrusted with
Sandy became a Certified Government Investment Professional through the Government Investment Officers Association (GIOA) in preparation for this role — because Lake County's funds deserve someone who already knows the job before day one.
- Ensure proper internal and external controls are in place on every County investment
- Keep investments safe and diverse across time-to-maturity, so no single risk can jeopardize County funds
- Maintain sufficient cash flow to cover both routine expenses and emergencies
- Apply the three core investment principles: safety of principal first, prudent diversity of funds, and proper liquidity
"You and your neighbors should not ever need to be concerned that the monies we've been entrusted to protect are at risk."
Accountability
Answering to residents, to every taxing body in the County, and to the State of Illinois — with systems that are open to scrutiny.
Answerable to every taxing body and every resident
As an elected official, Sandy is accountable to every Lake County resident — and as Treasurer, she'd be directly accountable to every municipality, park district, and school district that depends on accurate, on-time tax distributions to pay their own bills.
- Keep investments, payments, and financial records easily accessible to the public
- Ensure systems are highly functional and routinely checked for accuracy
- Deliver accurate, timely distribution of property tax levies to every municipality, park district, and school in the county
- Report and comply fully with oversight from the State of Illinois
"I'm also accountable to every taxing body in Lake County, and to the State of Illinois. Municipalities, park districts, and schools rely on the accurate and timely distribution of property tax levies to pay their own bills."
Trust
Earned over 14 years of public service — and never taken for granted.
Integrity that Lake County families can count on
The most important thing to Sandy is that the people of Lake County know she acts with integrity — and that she takes her role, whether as County Board Chair or Treasurer, extremely seriously.
- 26 years living in Lake County, with her husband's family rooted here for generations
- A track record of listening first: "listen to understand, debate respectfully, and seek common ground"
- A guiding philosophy of quiet, effective government: "government works best when you don't know it's there"
- Never taking residents' trust lightly, in this role or any other
"I want them, and you, and my kids, to be proud of the work I am doing on your behalf. I do not take your trust in me lightly."
14 years of proof, not promises
Sandy's platform isn't a wish list — it's an extension of what she's already delivered as a Lake County Board member and Board Chair.
- Achieved a AAA bond rating from both S&P and Moody's
- Led ~$7M in bond refinancing savings for taxpayers
- Held the property tax levy flat during her tenure
- Eliminated county-funded P-cards for board members
- Streamed all committee meetings and contracts online
- Instituted an ethics oversight committee with public members
- Required bidders to disclose campaign contributions
- Brought oversight and public disclosure to small taxing districts
- Funded PADS' first year-round shelter in Lake County
- Expanded Lake County Health Department services
- Helped end veteran homelessness in Lake County
- Launched 211 to connect residents to services they need
"Ensuring fiscal responsibility, enhancing transparency, and strengthening services for working families have always been core to my public service. I'm running for Lake County Treasurer to expand that commitment."