Watchdog group backs DuPage budget plan
A nonpartisan government watchdog group says it fully supports DuPage County's proposed 2012 spending plan and efforts to consolidate the county youth home.
The Civic Federation is recommending DuPage adopt the $434.7 million budget proposal that cuts spending for the third straight year, keeps the property tax levy flat and maintains core services for residents.
“Those are things we believe show reasonable fiscal stewardship during these difficult economic times,” said Laurence Msall, president of the Chicago-based organization.
County board members have until Nov. 30 to approve a final draft of the budget, which is $10.3 million less than this year's spending plan. DuPage's next fiscal year starts Dec. 1.
Among the things DuPage's budget proposal does right, according to the Civic Federation, are initiatives that allow the county to work within its existing revenues.
While officials are suggesting a 2 percent cost-of-living increase for employees, the plan doesn't fill 12 full-time positions left vacant by retirements. A total of 104 employees retired from the county this year.
As a result, the county's total head count is expected to drop by two full-time employees to 2,268, according to Msall.
“It's indicative of fiscal restraint,” he said. “Rather than looking for revenue sources or artificially inflating projected revenues, they're holding the line and reducing — although slightly — the head count. That's not insignificant. It's a responsible action by the government.”
The group also noted DuPage is implementing a policy that reduces the number of sick days and vacation days accrued by county employees. In another cost-saving measure, county employees next year will be asked to pay more for their health care benefits.
Msall said the focus on rationalizing personnel procedures is a prudent response to escalating expenses.
“I would still say the DuPage County personnel practices, particularly the health care costs and benefits, are still quite generous, especially compared to the private sector,” he said.
And with the county's revenues not expected to rise as fast as health care costs, Msall said DuPage officials “need to explore how to best share those cost increases with their employees.”
DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin reacted to the Civic Federation's analysis, which was released Friday, by saying he's pleased the independent group recognizes the county's work to trim personnel costs and operate in a more efficient manner.
“By reducing head count and containing long-term employment expenses, we are addressing the largest cost-driver in county government,” Cronin said. “This budget takes a long view to ensure our future finances are stable in this uncertain economy and charts a clear path on how to continue reducing costs while providing vital services.”
Meanwhile, Cronin received unsolicited support for a controversial plan to close the DuPage County Juvenile Detention Center. The Civic Federation applauded the county for exploring the possibility of transferring youth home detainees to Kane County's regional facility in St. Charles.
Despite putting an additional $400,000 in the budget to operate the facility in Wheaton, Cronin has said he hopes it's money that won't be spent. He's pushing for the proposed partnership with Kane.
Msall said his group sees the logic of the partnership, which officials estimate could save DuPage at least $800,000 annually.
“The county is going to continue to face financial pressures,” Msall said. “And maintaining a juvenile youth home is not necessarily a core function of county government.”
The group's report wasn't without some concerns. It found there are longer range issues the county needs to confront.
Msall said DuPage needs a formal long-term financial plan and a formal capital improvement plan. It also needs to establish a performance measurement system that would keep taxpayers and policymakers informed about how well county programs perform compared to expectations.
“We urge them (county board members) to adopt the budget,” Msall said. “But they need to begin working on a much more comprehensive capital improvement plan and a long-term financial plan that articulates both where the expenses are likely to grow and how they expect to cover them.”