DuPage budget: 3rd straight year of spending cuts

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin on Tuesday unveiled a proposed $434.7 million budget that reduces county spending for the third consecutive year.

The balanced budget proposal for fiscal 2012 is $10.3 million less than the current spending plan and calls for no property tax levy increase while providing “essential services” for county residents.

“Public safety, infrastructure and human services are our top priorities, and this budget demonstrates our commitment to those obligations,” Cronin said during a 12-minute Tuesday morning speech to the county board.

Cronin said revenue estimates for next year are “conservative” and “reflect the realities” of the struggling economy and the state’s “troubling” fiscal condition.

“This budget outlines the challenges that lie ahead and what opportunities we can pursue to make DuPage County a more dynamic and more productive body of local government,” he said.

A few hours later, Cronin told members of the Daily Herald editorial board that the budget proposal “responds to what the taxpayers have been demanding” by reducing employment costs, seeking consolidation and partnerships, and pursuing reform and transparency.

“I feel a responsibility to do my part to try to demonstrate that we can do things differently here in DuPage County,” he said.

When it comes to employee costs, the budget plan doesn’t require layoffs and furlough days. But it doesn’t fill 12 full-time positions left vacant by retirements. A total of 104 employees retired from the county this year.

DuPage also is implementing a policy that reduces the number of sick days and vacation days accrued by county employees. Cronin said the changes should save DuPage nearly $20 million during the next two decades. In another cost-saving measure, county employees next year will be asked to pay more for their health care benefits.

The budget proposal also calls for an end to a pay freeze that left most county workers without raises the last two fiscal years. Officials are suggesting a 2 percent cost-of-living increase for employees.

While there is money in the spending plan for DuPage’s youth home, Cronin said he still supports a plan to close the Wheaton facility and enter into a partnership with Kane County.

“Let me be clear,” he said. “I am confident that we will be able to reach a final agreement with Kane County. We will be able to eliminate this expense and provide a better quality of service.”

Board members have until Nov. 30 to approve a final draft of the budget. In the meantime, various board committees will review the proposed spending plan and suggest changes. The county’s fiscal year starts Dec. 1.

Cronin said the budget offers an opportunity to “build on the success” that DuPage has achieved.

“We’ve remained mindful of not just our duty to provide needed services but our obligation to make sure the tax dollars we spend are spent wisely, with purpose and with a large measure of respect to our taxpayers,” Cronin said.

DuPage has scheduled two town hall meetings to receive public feedback on the budget proposal. The meetings will be held Sept. 27 at Addison village hall and Oct. 4 at Lisle village hall.

Budget: Two town hall meetings on proposal scheduled