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DuPage County Board chairman calls for major budget cuts

More than 200 employees will lose their jobs, and county services will be drastically reduced if the County Board approves the budget its chairman proposed Tuesday.

In addressing the board, Chairman Robert Schillerstrom proposed laying off 235 workers - roughly 15 percent of the county's work force - and eliminating funding for several programs dealing with public safety, health and the environment. The cuts are necessary because the county has not found a new revenue source to make up for an estimated $20 million shortfall for next year's budget, Schillerstrom said.

The proposed budget is $50 million less than this year's budget, which included significant cuts.

For months, county officials have been lobbying lawmakers in Springfield to approve a $1-per-pack cigarette tax they believe could generate at least $25 million in new revenue for the county annually.

In September the board gave the chairman an extra month to propose his 2008 budget, hoping the Illinois General Assembly would pass the cigarette tax before Tuesday's deadline arrived. With discussions of the bill apparently stalled, Schillerstrom said he had no choice but to go ahead with his proposal.

"This is not a budget I want," he told board members. "It is not a budget you want. It is not a budget our elected officials want or will probably accept. It is not a budget that will meet the needs of DuPage County or our constituents.

"Sadly, Springfield has failed to act, and this budget will harm our quality of life," he said.

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Budget cuts at a glance

Lay off 235 county employees, including 100 from sheriff's office

Close traffic courts

Eliminate funding for DuPage County office of the University of Illinois Extension

Close the DuPage County Historical Museum

Reduce number of probation officers by 20 percent

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Last year, the County Board eliminated about 170 unfilled positions and laid off about 40 workers. This year, almost all the staff reductions would come in the form of layoffs.

Most of the layoffs will come from public safety agencies, which would lose 179 workers. Hardest hit will be the sheriff's office, which would lose 100 employees. It will be up to the elected officials running each department to decide which employees are eliminated, but there will almost certainly be law enforcement officers laid off, Schillerstrom said.

Sheriff John Zaruba blasted the chairman's proposal in a statement released following the budget address, saying the cuts would make it impossible for his office to carry out its duties.

"The budget, as proposed, is unacceptable," Zaruba said. "Cuts of this magnitude will cripple my ability to protect the people and property of DuPage County. I have mandated duties that cannot be carried out under this scenario.

Staffers also will be eliminated from the offices of the state's attorney, public defender and circuit court clerk.

Despite many board members' support for State's Attorney Joe Birkett's recent request for 11 additional employees, including seven more prosecutors, the proposed budget would cut more attorneys from his staff. The reductions would leave Birkett's office with about the same number of prosecutors as Kane County, which has a population half the size of DuPage.

The county's top criminal justice officials joined together in opposing Schillerstrom's proposed budget, calling it "unacceptable." Birkett, Court Clerk Chris Kachiroubas, Chief Judge Ann B. Jorgensen and Coroner Peter Siekmann held a joint news conference Tuesday afternoon calling on the County Board and General Assembly to find a revenue source to prevent further cuts of staff and programs.

"There won't be enough state's attorneys to staff the courtrooms. I won't have enough public defenders to adequately represent the indigent accused," Chief Judge Jorgensen said.

The justice officials recommended the County Board ask voters to approve a quarter-cent sales tax increase to prevent the "draconian" cuts proposed by the chairman. Other potential funding sources include a motor vehicle tax, they said.

Because DuPage County does not have home rule status, it must go to the General Assembly or voters for permission to increase or implement almost any tax. The county must approve a budget for 2008 by the end of November, because its fiscal year begins Dec. 1. Unless a new revenue source is found before then, layoffs would begin.