District 3 board candidates discuss DuPage's financal challenges

The three candidates vying for two District 3 seats on the DuPage County Board have differing ideas on what should be done to balance future budgets and hold the line on property taxes.

Republican incumbent Greg Hart, GOP newcomer Martin Tully and Democratic newcomer Julie Renehan will face off Nov. 6 to fill two seats representing a district that covers all or parts of Bolingbrook, Burr Ridge, Clarendon Hills, Darien, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Lemont, Naperville, Westmont, Willowbrook and Woodridge.

Hart, Tully and Renehan all say they want to help county government do more with less revenue.

Next month, the board is expected to approve a proposed $433.8 million spending plan for fiscal 2019. That spending proposal is roughly $5.8 million less than the county's current budget.

"It's getting more and more difficult each year" to balance the budget, said Hart, a Hinsdale resident who has served on the county board since being appointed in September 2017.

Hart, who is a management consultant, said he already has been able to use his professional skills to help DuPage save money.

Through his work on the health and human services committee, Hart was part of a decision to transfer the psychological services division from DuPage's community services department to the health department. The savings allowed the county and the health department to serve more people.

Still, he said, reductions in state funding are taking a toll.

"We had to get creative in terms of how we continue to keep critical services that our residents expect," Hart said.

Tully said he believes the county should take a multipronged approach to address its finances, including promoting economic development.

He said the work the county is doing with Choose DuPage to attract and retain businesses should continue.

"Keeping and bringing businesses to DuPage County is very important because that helps grow your tax base," said Tully, an attorney who has served two terms as Downers Grove mayor.

Tully said his municipal experience also showed him the benefits of collaboration and consolidation.

For example, he said Downers Grove worked with other governmental entities on projects that included paving parking lots.

"Why go out to contract separately?" Tully said. "We can get the benefit of a larger contract and save the cost by doing it together."

He said there are ways DuPage could partner with other government entities, not-for-profit groups and private entities to keep costs down.

Renehan, meanwhile, joined other Democratic candidates in calling on the county to spend less on lobbyists, reduce the pay of elected officials and eliminate health benefits for county board members. The attorney from Hinsdale also says the county should reduce no-bid contracts.

"We have more issues than ever facing us, and we've got a tighter budget than ever before," Renehan said.

Still, Renehan and her opponents said they want property taxes to remain flat for county government.

"Keeping that property tax levy flat attracts more businesses and more people to invest in DuPage," Hart said.

He said officials should continue to examine the county budget and try to find more savings. If the county reaches a point where it can't cut, Hart said a tax on hotel and motel stays could be "a last resort."

State lawmakers would need to give the county the power to impose the new tax on hotel and motel stays. Hart said a study also would be needed to make sure the idea doesn't put DuPage at a competitive disadvantage.

"My biggest thing is that I don't want to pass the burden down to the taxpayers of DuPage County," Hart said. "I think they're paying enough."