Salaries, fuel, drive DuPage forest preserve budget increase

Staff pay increases and benefits along with rising fuel costs created the biggest bump in the DuPage County Forest Preserve's operating expenses for the upcoming fiscal year.

Personnel costs are expected to rise $1.1 million during the next 12 months and include the addition of three new full-time positions. Fuel costs are going from $380,000 last year to an estimated $750,000 this year.

The figures were all part of the district's $39.5 million operating budget, a 3.3 percent increase, that was unanimously approved Tuesday.

"This budget is a perfect example of an elected body working within proper constraints," said board President Dewey Pierotti. "There's no doom and gloom."

The district will collect $22.3 million -- an increase of almost $900,000 -- in property taxes this coming fiscal year, which starts July 1. That's despite the fact commissioners decreased the district's property tax rate 19 cents.

The district charges residents $5.54 per $100 of equalized assessed valuation. The previous rate was $5.73. However, the reduction in the tax rate wasn't enough to offset the increased value of most property in the county.

Brent Manning, the district's executive director, said it's nearly impossible to set a tax rate that will offset property value increases because tax rates are due to the county before township assessors are finished determining property values.

The district is anticipating a large bounce in grant funding this coming year. Last year, they received $1.9 million in grants and agency reimbursements. They are budgeting for $4.5 million.

Pierotti said the district is being more aggressive in seeking available grant funds and have dedicated staff to securing the grants.

The budget also includes a $16.6 million capital improvement plan, which calls for $3 million in land acquisition, $2 million for infrastructure and another $11 million in preserve and landfill improvements.

The three new positions are part of the district's aquatic monitoring program that will be funded by a number of outside sources, said Carole Hofmann, the district's chief financial officer. The plan calls for the district to hire two ecologists and a natural resources coordinator. The trio will only be hired if the funding comes through, she said.