Message from the Chairman

Over the coming weeks, the County Board has the good fortune to maintain and enhance our quality of life in DuPage in order to guarantee that our streets are kept safe and that vital county programs continue their service to the public.

Passage of the RTA Act means we have the opportunity to: fund our critical public safety and human service agencies; prevent layoffs in the Sheriff’s Office, State’s Attorney’s Office, and our Probation office; and continue our efforts to ease the traffic gridlock that chokes transportation in our region.  In short, we will avert a public safety crisis, take steps to prevent future crises; and continue to protect and enhance our quality of life.  Working together, we can now move forward in a responsible, collaborative and deliberative manner, to use what the Legislature has provided in the best interest of the people of DuPage.

It is estimated that we will receive roughly half of the projected revenue – or about $20 million — from the RTA quarter cent sales tax this year.  First and foremost, we must stabilize and protect our County services and programs by bringing staffing levels back to Fiscal Year 07. Even at these levels, we will continue to operate one of the leanest counties in the country.  Discussions with elected officials overseeing our public safety functions make clear that staffing should minimally be at levels established in FY 07.  This new revenue will ensure our public safety and human service agencies have the tools they need to adequately serve the public.

There has also been talk of a potential down turn in the economy, and the fear that a recession is looming.   I believe we must plan so our county has the resources necessary in such an event and I recommend setting aside up to $5 million into a Public Safety Strategic Reserve.  The objective of such a reserve would be to protect and preserve public safety and support critical operations in the event of longer-term adverse economic conditions, or emergencies.  This reserve will be separate from our normal cash reserves, and will be accessible only through County Board approval. 

The RTA Act also allows Counties to address their transportation needs with this new revenue.  Our Strategic Plan also shows, along with public safety, that traffic congestion is a top issue facing our region.  A portion of the funds we receive must go toward transportation projects that will help ease traffic congestion.  In this year of partial funding, I propose that up to $2 million of this revenue should be set aside to begin the planning, engineering and construction of key transportation projects.  A portion of that money will go to update our public transit plan.  It is imperative we begin to enhance our public transportation system in this county. 

Public Safety and Transportation are two of our biggest responsibilities.  So too is our call to be responsible stewards of the people’s money.  As we undertake the process of amending our 2008 budget, we must be deliberate and thoughtful.  We must also work together, with each department and agency, to provide the best service possible.  The County Board also has the opportunity to stabilize community programs such as Human Services Grants, Access DuPage, the Household Hazardous Waste Program, the U of I Extension, which provide tremendous benefits to the residents of DuPage County.  Flexibility in the corporate fund will allow us to accommodate increased funding for these programs.

DuPage County has worked hard over the last three years to secure a revenue source, and by working together we can ensure our County continues to use these monies to protect our families, help those in need, maintain our infrastructure and continue to make DuPage County a great place to live, work and raise a family.

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