Is there hidden treasure in DuPage's doomsday budget?

Is it a doomsday budget or is there buried treasure in the fiscal plan DuPage County board members must vote on by Nov. 30?

Elected officials offered different spins on the $376 million budget plan during a special session today.

Board member Jim Healy took colleagues on a line-by-line review of revenues, which he believes are underestimated by more than $3 million.

Among the items he singled out were money from new court fines, reimbursements from the federal government and investments.

"There were some things that were not included," Healy said, adding that some revenue estimates were based on data from the summer.

"It's not a criticism," he said. "It's a fluid thing."

The so-called doomsday budget presented by county board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom calls for a reduction of 235 jobs to avoid a deficit.

Board member Robert Schroeder called the proposed layoffs intolerable and was successful in getting a majority of officials to support a recommendation seeking to delay any layoffs and program cuts until after a planned referendum Feb. 5.

The county will ask voters on the primary ballot if they wish to support a quarter-cent sales tax, which should generate more than $40 million annually for public safety.

"A lot of our personnel are very concerned about this potential budget," Schroeder said. The recommendation requires a formal vote by the full board.

Following the meeting, Schillerstrom questioned Healy's math, saying he doubted if even $1 million in extra revenues could be found.

"I think our numbers are very responsible," he said. "They're based on the work of professional people who work on this all year long."

As for holding off layoffs until the results of the referendum, Schillerstrom said it's possible but the county would be forced to dip into its cash reserves.

The board will meet again at noon Tuesday when financial staff members are expected to reconcile the conflicting revenue estimates and officials will focus on what expenses to cut.

Topics of concern likely will include instituting a hiring freeze, reducing capital expenses at the county headquarters in Wheaton and cuts in travel.

The 2008 budget corporate fund, which pays for most salaries, is $9.5 million less than the 2007 version. The entire 2008 budget is $52 million less than 2007. The largest slice of the difference - $33 million - comes from transportation because the department has finished a number of major capital projects.