TAVARES — At its budget workshops earlier this month, the Lake County Board of County Commissioners approved a measure to reassign the County’s collection of historical artifacts and displays to the Lake County Historical Society.

“The County has put $20,000 in the budget for the historical society to assist in the operations and oversight of the current museum’s artifacts and displays,” said County Manager Cindy Hall. “Our intent is to place these items in other public buildings to give citizens an opportunity to view them.”

Because of the change in operations, the Lake County Historical Museum, located on the first of the Lake County Historic Courthouse at 317 W. Main St. in Tavares, will close. The County is currently evaluating how best to use the space this closure will create.

Occupancy of the Historic Courthouse is currently in flux. The Lake County Tax Collector’s Office moved last week from the second floor of the building to its new offices across the street at 320 W. Main St. The Lake County Property Appraiser's Office will be closed to move on Friday, Sept. 18, and will reopen on Monday, Sept. 21, in its new location at 320 W. Main St. The open space in the Historic Courthouse will help alleviate overcrowding at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

The closure of the Lake County Historical Museum will be a process that will occur sometime after the new budget year begins on Oct. 1. The move saves about $80,000 from the Tourist Development Tax, which previously funded the museum’s operation.

For more information, call the Lake County Manager’s Office at (352) 343-9888.