DuPage budget picture much rosier

What a difference a year makes.

Well, a year and an extra $47 million from increased sales tax revenue.

After facing some hefty cuts in all of DuPage County's public safety sectors in last year's budget, County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom announced plans Tuesday to add 32 public safety jobs, reinstitute a sheriff's program that provides a sentencing alternative to jail and create a $1 million monitoring program for offenders awaiting trial.

Schillerstrom also unveiled plans for a five-year $220 million capital improvement program called "DuPage 2013" that he said will help ease traffic congestion, create 5,500 jobs and replace and rehabilitate outmoded technology and buildings.

"DuPage 2013 will be an economic stimulus to our county and region," he said. "While Springfield still debates and delays on passage of a state capital bill, there is clearly something we can and must do."

This year's budget is more than $462 million, which Schillerstrom noted remains less than levels from five years ago.

Last year at this time, Schillerstrom was facing a massive budget shortfall that could have resulted in the loss of more than 200 public safety jobs. When the state legislature passed a mass transit bailout package that increased sales tax levels in several Chicago area counties, DuPage and other collar counties were allowed to use half of the increased sales tax revenue for public safety and transportation funding.

The additional funds allowed the county to retain the 201 public safety jobs, give employees raises and abate property taxes. The property tax abatement amounted to a total of $1 million, which meant the average homeowner saw a $3 reduction from their tax bill.

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