Just when DuPage County appeared to be set for smooth sailing financially for the first time in several years, national economic turmoil created unexpected waves in this year’s budget process.

Despite the uncertainty, the County Board voted 12-5 Tuesday to approve a $481 million budget without having to make any major changes to Chairman Robert Schillerstrom’s original plan. The budget increases spending by about 17 percent over 2008. It returns the county budget to about the level it was in 2004, when the board began making cuts to combat rising costs and stagnant revenue. 

“I think we’re very well situated if the economy continues to go down,” Schillerstrom said. “We have substantial cash reserves.”

The budget provides double-digit percentage pay raises for prosecutors and sheriff’s deputies, covers rising health insurance costs for county employees and commits at least $7.5 million to road projects and building improvements at the county government complex in Wheaton.

Due to an anticipated decline in consumer spending, the board reduced its sales tax revenue projections for next year by about 5 percent. Several board member have stated in recent weeks that the original estimates were overly optimistic.

To offset the decrease, the board cut in half the $12 million Schillerstrom had proposed setting aside for his DuPage 2013 plan, which would use about $200 million in bonds to fund capital projects.

The $12 million would cover the first year’s payment of the debt if the bonds were sold at the beginning of the year. But because of the weak economy, it probably will be several months before the county considers selling bonds, Schillerstrom said.

Setting aside $6 million still would allow the possibility of selling bonds later in the year if the economy improves, he said. It also would offset the expected drop in sales tax income with money to spare. The remaining $1 million will pay for the prosecutors’ raises and the increasing insurance costs.

The changes all reflected proposed amendments to his budget plan Schillerstrom made Monday at a special County Board meeting.

If bonds are sold in 2009, the board plans to use $15 million of that money for some of the projects listed in the DuPage 2013 plan.

Despite the difficult economic times, the county will bring in about $1 million more than expected in 2008 and will spend about $10 million less than budgeted, said Fred Backfield, the county’s chief financial officer.

Of that $11 million surplus, $7.5 million will be devoted to capital improvement projects.
Schillerstrom said he wants to use $6.1 million of that money to pay for the county’s portion of a new interchange at Eola Road and Interstate 88 in Aurora.

Grant Eckhoff, R-4th District, of Wheaton was one of the five board members who voted against the budget. He said he cast a dissenting vote because he did not like the idea of budgeting to spend $15 million from bonds that might not be sold.

“I don’t think we should be saying today that if we get this money, we’re committed to spending it,” Eckhoff said. “I don’t think we know enough about the future of this economy to make that commitment.”

Schillerstrom said that while a line was created in the budget for that money, it will not be spent if they bonds are not sold.

Brien Sheahan, R-2nd District, Elmhurst also opposed the budget. He said the last-minute changes to the budget troubled him.

“I do continue to be concerned that this budget puts us on a long-term trajectory of having to talk about tax increases or budget cuts in the near future,” Sheahan said. “I would have preferred to see more saving and less spending.”

Last year the County Board approved severe budget cuts that included laying off more than 200 county workers. Before the cuts took effect, the Illinois General Assembly approved a quarter-cent sales tax increase that helped fill the county’s budget hole.