DuPage County budget calls for property tax cut, $40 million surplus

DuPage County hopes to include more minority- and women-owned businesses in its construction projects.

DuPage County will start the fiscal year with a balanced budget that features new projects and pay raises for employees while also reducing property taxes.

County board members unanimously approved the $584.1 million spending plan for fiscal 2023, which began Dec. 1.

It is Chairman Dan Croninโ€™s final budget before he steps down from office after 12 years at the helm of county government. Cronin, who decided not to seek reelection, will leave behind a hefty county surplus of $40 million in the current budget year.

At his last board meeting earlier this week, Cronin pointed to his years of fiscal stewardship.

โ€œWeโ€™ve balanced every budget. Weโ€™ve kept property taxes low, making wise, prudent investments,โ€ Cronin said. โ€œDuPage County is in the strongest financial shape it has been in a long time. Weโ€™ve embodied the spirit of accountability, efficiency, positive and innovative service delivery.โ€

Sales tax revenue โ€“ a major source of the surplus โ€“ grew by $21.4 million, or 19.6%, when compared with original budget estimates. The county posted $12.1 million in August, the second-highest month ever. Taxes on internet sales, a relatively new revenue stream, are a primary driver of the increase, financial planners said.

The county is expected to use some of the surplus to fund the following projects:

โ€ข $3 million for major renovations of the DuPage Care Center, a 368-bed, county-owned nursing home

โ€ข $2 million for transportation infrastructure

โ€ข $2.5 million to cover liability and insurance costs

โ€ข $6 million to replace the countyโ€™s financial system

โ€ข $3.25 million to replace aging vehicles

โ€ข $393,800 for the installation of roof-mounted solar panels on the county administration building

โ€ข $398,680 for a stormwater project at Winfield Creek

โ€ข $250,000 for the โ€œNeighborhood Revitalization Program,โ€ an effort to remove or repair dilapidated or abandoned buildings

On the revenue side, the budget calls for a $69.9 million property tax levy. County board members also have agreed to abate $5 million in property taxes.

The abatement, which will be automatically deducted from property tax bills in 2023, will save the owner of a $365,000 home โ€“ the median in DuPage โ€“ an average of $13.86. That owner now pays about $193 in property taxes to the county. After the abatement, that figure is set to drop to about $179.

The general fund budget, which includes the budgets of most county offices and departments, totals $234.6 million.

As outlined in Croninโ€™s recommended budget, nonunion employees are due to receive a 4% cost-of-living increase instead of the usual 2%, paid out in December. The county also will award a 2% merit increase in February to eligible employees.

State Rep. Deb Conroy will succeed Cronin as chair. Conroy and newly elected board members will take office Dec. 5.