WurfWhile

The difference between the revenue from the DuPage vehicle sticker tax ($24 million) that the county board can enact and the DuPage quarter cent sales tax ($40 million) that needs to go to referendum is pretty substantial ($16 million). In neither case does it plug the over $50 million budget shortfall. But today’s Chicago Tribune had a wrinkle that I don’t think I’ve seen before:

“Neither would restore all of the $52 million in spending cuts proposed in the 2008 budget, but either tax would eliminate the need for staff cuts next year, said County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom.”

There are a few statement/questions to glean from this:

1. It appears that the DuPage County Board can keep current staffing levels if it chooses by instituting the vehicle sticker tax (which it can do on its own).

2. What kind of budget cuts are involved for the $28 million or more in non-staffing cuts?

3. Since members of the county board have suggested that one tax, but not both, will be enacted, what is planned for the $12 million in seemingly minimum cuts?

It will be interesting (and hopefully not too horrifying) to see the budget.