DuPage County sales tax hike up to voters

In a short but far from sweet meeting Thursday, DuPage County Board members agreed to let the public vote on a quarter-cent sales tax increase to fund public safety in the Feb. 5 primary.

But the more controversial alternative to solve a looming budget fiasco -- a $50 vehicle sticker fee -- went nowhere.

Some had argued that the unpopular vehicle sticker fee was a safety net that could be enacted and then rescinded if the sales tax request failed. However, in an 11-7 vote, the board tabled it.

That leaves Chairman Robert Schillerstrom with one of the toughest challenges of his political career and a budget revolt on his hands.

"This doesn't resolve anything," Schillerstrom said, noting that it would be "irresponsible" to consider the referendum revenues a given.

"We still have to pass a budget and we have less than two weeks to do that."

The chairman's so-called doomsday budget calls for 235 layoffs and program cuts to balance the books. The 2008 budget is $50 million less than the 2007 fiscal plan.

The board has until Nov. 30 to vote on the budget, but a majority of board members have said they won't support it as it stands. Meanwhile, some officials are seeking to hold a special budget meeting Tuesday.

"The chairman's budget if off the table. Doing nothing is off the table," board member Paul Fichtner said.

The sales tax could generate between $44 million to $45 million annually compared to the vehicle fee, which was estimated to bring in $25 million. Currently, most DuPage residents pay a sales tax of 6.75 percent.

If approved, funds will be directed to law enforcement.

Tax increase proponents will have their work cut out for them. The approaching holidays will absorb voters' attention, and there are concerns that low voter turnout during primaries, even with a presidential election, doesn't favor tax increases.

"There's a lot of work that needs to be done to convince voters that a public safety tax is necessary," said State's Attorney Joe Birkett, who has pledged his support.

Board member Michael Connelly cast the sole vote against the referendum.

"It's premature. We have not vetted the budget line item by line item," Connelly said. He was still hopeful the General Assembly might pass its own sales tax to fund the RTA or a cigarette tax that would generate revenues.

Several officials contend the county's financial situation isn't as dire as it appears.

Board member Jim Zay said there are many unanswered questions about the budget. He estimated funds are still available to avert layoffs.

Schillerstrom disagreed.

"I think they're just deluding themselves if they think they can pass a budget with the revenues we have without making cuts," he said.

Zay made the motion to delay a vote on the vehicle sticker. "If we had the votes to pass it, it would have come forward," he said.

But others, even on opposite sides of the issue, said it deserved a roll call.

Board member Debra Olson said the fee "would hurt people on fixed incomes and was more of a short-term solution." But "I thought we needed to deal with it," she said.

Board member Linda Kurzawa, who called the fee a necessary evil, speculated that politics played a role in the vote.

"This is just about getting past the primary," Kurzawa said. "I'm disappointed it got tabled."

While Schillerstrom said he believed the vehicle sticker was dead, others said it still had a little life.

"We can decide on a vehicle sticker at any time," Fichtner said. "We can decide on it the day after the referendum if it fails."