DuPage Democrats cry foul on tax hike

Candidates accuse board of 'scare tactics'

by Jake Griffin - Daily Herald staff

December 12, 2007

The six Democrats seeking seats on the DuPage County Board railed Tuesday against the Republican-controlled body's proposed quarter-cent sales tax increase.

The candidates blasted the board for approving a budget that relies on the $40 million tax hike to salvage more than 200 county jobs -- mainly in the public safety sector. Voters will be asked to approve the measure Feb. 5.

"This board has put so many county employees' lives on hold and left their futures uncertain by proposing to lay off those who do such a professional and necessary service to the residents," said Dirk Enger, a District 6 candidate from Winfield. "This board's doomsday budget is lacking the fundamental facts, but instead is filled with smoke and mirrors and scare tactics."

County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom said he has not heard any Democratic solutions to the expected budget shortfall. He explained that state law mandates any sales tax increases go toward public safety costs.

"The sales tax increase is a long-term solution," Schillerstrom said after Tuesday's board meeting.

Board members called the Democrats' assault on the tax hike "political rhetoric."

"My response to their antic is, what alternatives do they have?" asked board member Jim Healy (District 5). "The silence is deafening. They don't understand county government, they don't want to understand county government, they just go out there and throw hand grenades, which makes good press."

Democratic candidate Richard Dunn of Glen Ellyn said the board should make any tax hike only temporary, if it passes.

"I cannot answer how to eliminate a $40 million deficit in one year," he added. "I have a plan that can save $4 million, and I don't have access to the auditor like the county board does."

Bob Brandt, a Democratic candidate from Woodridge, said the county board is asking voters to "bail them out of a hole" the board created through "inefficient government."

He complained the board ignored various reports warning of the pending financial problems.

"There were dozens of recommendations presented to county board by the board's own cost efficiency committee and also by the independent, non-partisan Civic Federation," Brandt said. "These recommendations would have consolidated departments, reduced the number of elected officials, reduced salaries and perks, reformed and modernized county government, saving millions of dollars."

The candidates, who also included Rifat Sivisoglu, of Elmhurst, and Max Havlick and Barbara Dahl, both of Villa Park, held a press conference railing against the tax hike plan Tuesday morning on the steps of the county building, alongside a blow-up doll of Dr. Seuss' Grinch character they dubbed "SchillerGrinch."