DuPage revenue down, but so are expenses

It was equal parts good news and bad news at Tuesday's budget update during the DuPage County Board's finance committee meeting.

Finance Director Fred Backfield reported revenues were down $8 million from what was projected at the start of the fiscal year last December, mainly due to shortfalls in sales taxes.

However, because the board didn't pull the trigger on an ambitious capital improvement plan, $6 million was saved this year. Combined with an extra $4 million accrued by the circuit court clerk's office and another $2 million in cost cuts throughout county departments, the impact of the revenue shortfall should be negated, officials said.

"It could be worse," said board member Paul Fichtner, chairman of the finance committee.

Some board members said the missed projections should make the finance department more conservative with estimates for coming fiscal years.

"I hope the coming budget would reflect the continuing economic issues we're facing," board member Brien Sheahan said.

Sheahan and Fichtner were part of a slim majority of the board who expressed concerns last year about revenue projections being too high as the country slipped further into recession. That's the main reason the board did not approve a massive capital improvement package that would have required borrowing millions of dollars that would take nearly three decades to pay off.

"Thank God we didn't do that," Fichtner said. "But we have to be very careful going forward this next budget year to make sure we don't get too excited about a potential recovery because it's still questionable."

Every year, board member Jim Healy produces a second budget proposal for the board to consider. He said his sales tax projections for this year were actually closer than the finance department's and he also predicted the increased revenue from the circuit court clerk's office.

"Every year I say one amount and they say another," he said. "But I think this coming year we're going to be the closest Fred and I have ever been on the numbers."

Healy said the board acted responsibly by waiting on the capital package, but warned that expense reductions can't save the county year after year.

"Obviously this is something we hope does not repeat next year," he said. "Nobody's ever fine with it."

Chairman Robert Schillerstrom is expected to release his budget proposal next week, which will kick off a series of budget hearings that will culminate with a vote expected some time in November. The fiscal year begins Dec. 1.

Ahead of the budget hearings, the finance committee is holding a series of forums this month that will give residents a chance to weigh-in on the process.

The first forum is scheduled for Sept. 24 at Naperville's Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St. The second will be Sept. 28 at Downers Grove village hall, 801 Burlington Ave. The final forum is slated for Sept. 29 at Addison village hall, 1 Friendship Plaza. All three events will run from 7 to 9:30 p.m.