DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy presented a balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2027 outlining a spending plan that supports vital County services in a fiscally responsible manner.
“Each year, I try to strike the right balance between our fiscal responsibilities and our social responsibilities to maintain safe, welcoming communities where DuPage residents can put down roots, grow, and thrive,” said Conroy. “We’re stepping forward into the next chapter of our County’s history with some exciting new programs and new approaches to governance. But we will always continue our tradition of providing our residents with the highest value for their tax dollars.”
The proposed FY2027 budget totals $710.7 million and the General Fund budget is $283.8 million. The budget includes a $71.9 million property tax levy, capturing new construction without raising the property tax rate, which remains flat at less than two percent of the average homeowner’s tax bill. A homeowner with a home valued at $350,000 will pay about $131 in property taxes to DuPage County in 2027.
Highlights of the Chair’s proposal include:
$5 million for a first-time homebuyer program, administered through a partnership with the Illinois Housing and Development Authority
$5 million for a rental assistance program to assist lower-income residents with increasing costs of rent
$4 million to develop a stormwater infrastructure grant program to mitigate the impacts of floods and serious storms
$3,146,000 to support local food insecurity initiatives
$1 million to the County’s Sustainability Fund to provide additional assistance due to federal reductions to Medicaid and SNAP benefits
$300,000 for a two-year pilot program to pay for childcare assistance for workers who complete County workforce training programs
Additional funding for public safety, including the Sheriff’s Office, State’s Attorney’s Office, and Public Defender
DuPage County maintains a AAA bond rating from all three rating agencies, a feat only accomplished by 1.6% of counties nationwide.
The public can provide feedback on the proposed budget plan at https://dupagecounty-ktgfp.formstack.com/forms/proposed_budget_feedback.
The DuPage County Board will now consider the Chair’s proposed budget and will approve the final County budget at its November 24 meeting. The 2027 Fiscal Year begins December 1.
—DuPage County government