DuPage Airport board, Schillerstrom 'save face' in new budget deal

The DuPage Airport Authority board unanimously approved a revised budget proposal Wednesday that reinstates operational funding for the DuPage National Technology Park.

The revision comes on the heels of DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom exercising his veto power for the first time his 12-year tenure, scuttling the budget while complaining that it showed no funding for the tech park.

Airport board Chairman Dan Goodwin said the revised budget is a compromise that allows "both sides to save face" because it grants the tech park administration's full funding request, but calls for the tech park to return $316,000 of the appropriation to pay off some of the $650,000 it owes the airport authority. The tech park's large debt payback will cut into its $400,000 reserves, which Goodwin said both he and Schillerstrom agreed should not exist.

Schillerstrom did not return calls seeking comment about the compromise Wednesday.

Goodwin said the airport board should have discussed the funding cuts with Schillerstrom and the tech park board before submitting the previous budget proposal. He also acknowledged the airport board's desire to remove tech park Director Jack Tenison from power.

"We could save money by taking over the administrative duties and doing them with airport staff," he said.

In addition, a committee made up of airport board members and tech park board members will be convened to make sure that the goals and mission of the park are clear to both sides.

Airport board member and tech park board Chairman Peter Huizenga said a failure of communication led to the funding dispute. The airport has spent nearly $7.5 million on tech park operations and infrastructure costs, even though little has been built there.

"Schillerstrom made a mistake by not communicating his objectives to us," Huizenga said. "The chairman is looking at the tech park like this could be a positive legacy for him."