DuPage County is poised to cut some 20 percent from its budget. If the axe falls, it will slash funding for sheriff's police, the state's attorney's office, the health department, the juvenile detention center and plenty of other programs that serve the public. How did we get here?
County Board members say this day has been coming for a long time. "We should have found a different revenue source," they said, what with the $15 million a year the from the DuPage Water Commission drying up. The county had hoped the Legislature would grant it the authority to tax cigarettes, but that's what they get for acting like Cubs fans hoping the team makes it to the World Series.
Will there be an 11th-hour rescue of DuPage County, like there was (temporarily, anyway) of the CTA and Pace? Or will Republican stronghold DuPage be left twisting in the wind by the Democratic-controlled Legislature? Will (budget) doomsday come?
It makes me sick every time I read the paper about the pending budget crisis and the prospect of reducing services and lay offs. Chairman Schillerstrom and the county board have known for a long time that a new revenue source was needed to sustain an already over worked and understaffed (yes, grossly understaffed compared to other collar counties and those across the country with comparable populations and demographics) county government that has already sustained cut after cut over the past couple of years. The truth is: the DuPage County Board led by Chairman Schillerstrom has failed to provide any tangible solutions to the current budget shortfalls. Now they want to place their failures squarely on the backs of DuPage County employees. That is simply unacceptable.
Look, we live in dangerous uncertain times, and the mere thought of reducing the number of police on the street or prosecutors in the courthouse is absurd. Additionally, the demographics of this county have been changing dramatically over the past several years. More people every year depend on the health and dental services that Chairman Schillerstrom has placed on the chopping block.
I am not a proponent of deficit spending. However, when you realize that DuPage county’s debt is a mere %2.5 (50 million) of its authorized 2 billion dollar limit you have to legitimately ask; why lay offs now? Why cuts in service now? The county board needs approve a budget that does not include any prospect of lay offs or service cuts. Then, they need to lock themselves in a room until they fix the problems that they (alone) have created.
One of the ways DuPage County and the States Attorney's office can save about 1 million dollars is for DuPage States Attorney Joe Birkett to stop wasting valuable tax dollars by pursuing the death penalty case against Brian Dugan. Brian Dugan is already serving two life sentences and will NEVER get out of prison. He has admitted to killing Jeanine Nicarico and said he would plead guilty if the States Attorney (Joe Birkett) would take the death penalty off the table. Joe Birkett refuses this offer and insists on pursuing the death penalty against Brian Dugan. The taxpayers are on the hook not only his prosecution but for paying Dugan’s legal fees for his public defense. Then if given the death penalty there will be automatic appeals the taxpayers will pay for. I think Brian Dugan deserves the death penalty but not if it’s going to cost the taxpayers a million dollars. How many jobs and programs can be saved with this money? How many prosecutors working this case could fill the prosecutor shortage by devoting their time to other cases? How can DuPage County and Joe Birkett justify this spending? I’m so tired of hearing their doomsday scenario if the county can’t come up with new funding when they are not being responsible with the money they currently have. As long as DuPage County continues this wasteful spending I cannot support their request for more tax dollars.
I say cut the budget and good riddance to the wasteful government spending, crazy benefits and government pensions.
Say NO to deficit spending.
I say cut the budget and good riddance to the wasteful government spending, crazy benefits and government pensions.
Say NO to deficit spending.
I had to respond to this post. "Good riddance to wasteful government spending"
My husband is a Deputy Sheriff for DuPage County. He has dedicated his life to serve and protect the people of DuPage County. Let me share with you that my family has not received any crazy benefits or wild spending.
My husband has proudly put on his uniform every day for the last 27 years. The last 7 have been served with NO RAISE in pay. The next time you sit down to write out your monthly bills, stop writing at the amount you made in the year 2000. That is what Chairman Schillerstrom and his elected board have done to our household and to the dedicated workers all around DuPage County.
I ask you to take a good look at your county board and see what type of "cost of living" raises the county board members have continued to vote for themselves while many are asked to conserve and make do.
The stipends they receive for sitting on certain committees, the extensive medical benefits they feel they are entitled too, the cars that are provided for "county business" and lastly the indignant way they answer questions when they point fingers at the voters of DuPage County.
There, is where the wasteful government spending you refer to is.
It is not in the patrol cars, county jail, probation dept, Public Defenders office or support services offices.
Without any thought of taking any cuts of their own, the gutless county board has already approved their doomsday budget. They have chosen to hide and postpone putting their unreasonable budget into effect until after the spring vote.
This way they can blame their mis-management on the people of DuPage County if the vote fails.