DuPage County Board could limit number of sheriff's deputies

After calling on Sheriff John Zaruba to reduce his department's spending to help balance DuPage's 2018 budget, county board members want to ensure he complies.

Toward that end, they're planning to impose a cap on the number of sworn deputies the sheriff's office can have during the next fiscal year, which starts Dec. 1. County board leaders and Zaruba are negotiating what that number should be.

"We're bringing the head count down to match the dollars we're giving him so he can't go over the dollars," said Paul Fichtner, chairman of the county board's finance committee.

Earlier this year, Zaruba requested a department budget totaling roughly $43.3 million. But then DuPage officials learned the county is expected to lose roughly $3.5 million in revenue from the state.

To make up for the projected loss of funding, all countywide offices and departments were asked to reduce costs. The sheriff's office was asked to reduce the amount it spends on base employee salaries by 4 percent.

The sheriff's office is expected to comply. Still, Fichtner said he doesn't want a repeat of what happened two years ago, when the department exceeded its budget by about $1 million.

"Two years ago, there was a little bit of flexibility," Fichtner said. "Now we're being hit by Springfield and there's a lot less flexibility. So we need better assurances."

Board members are scheduled to vote on the cap - along with the department's total head count - on Nov. 28. It's the same day they're expected to approve the 2018 budget.

It's not yet clear if the cap will be less than the number of sworn deputies the sheriff's office already has.

On Friday, Zaruba said he's been having "positive conversations" about the proposed resolution with members of the board and county CFO Paul Rafac.

"I am hopeful the results of these conversations will reflect the best interests of all to protect the citizens of DuPage County while remaining fiscally responsible," Zaruba wrote in an email.

Members of the county board's judicial and public safety committee are expected to get an update on Tuesday.

The idea of limiting the number of sworn deputies doesn't have universal support. Some county board members oppose it.

"My concern is that we're kind of handcuffing an elected countywide officeholder," board member Pete DiCianni said.

But board member Robert Larsen said the sheriff's office is an enormous part of the county's operating budget. He said Zaruba should explain why he needs a certain number of deputies assigned to patrol, jail and courthouse duty.

Board member Jim Zay, meanwhile, said he and others will work with Zaruba to determine what the cap number should be.

"No one is looking to hurt the sheriff's office," Zay said. "We're looking to get that number set with them through negotiations."

If the limit needs to be raised during the fiscal year, Zay said, the sheriff's office can simply ask the county board to increase it.

Board member Tonia Khouri said the point of the resolution isn't to cut staff at the sheriff's office.

"Taxpayers want their elected officials accountable," she said. "I see this as a tool to make the sheriff's office accountable to taxpayers."