DuPage's FEMA Flood Disaster Center Opened in Lisle; Assistance Available

DuPage County residents affected by the mid-April flooding can apply for assistance via the Internet, phone or by going to the Lisle Police Department in person.

The following is a press release from DuPage County: DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin urges residents affected by the recent flood to apply for federal assistance to help alleviate expenses incurred in the recovery process from the April storms. “More than 9,000 DuPage County homes and businesses received extensive damage to their properties from the  April flood. In an effort to help relieve some of the financial burden, the federal government is providing grants and low-interest loans to help cover some of the uninsured costs endured by families. I urge residents to apply for these grants and loans as they continue to work with their insurance companies during this recovery process,” said Cronin.  Throughout the past month, DuPage…

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Letter to the Editor

Letter: Bill Would Allow Counties to Cut 'Wasteful and Redundant' Layers of Government

DuPage County Chairman Dan Cronin writes about how Senate Bill 494 would allow county leaders to eliminate "wasteful and redundant" layers of government.

May 6, 2013 Dear Editor, Illinois’ 7,000 units of government have created multiple layers of inefficiency that place an unnecessary financial burden on taxpayers. In an effort to reduce the size, scope and cost of local government, I have initiated legislation in Springfield that would provide DuPage County with new tools to achieve incremental reform. Senate Bill 494 would allow county leaders to make the tough choices necessary to eliminate wasteful and redundant layers of government when it has been determined to be in the best interest of taxpayers. A recent assessment of county-appointed agencies revealed many opportunities for shared services, consolidation and in some cases dissolution. These 24 agencies account for nearly $300 …

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Watchdog Group: Motives in DuPage Board Chair Cronin’s Hirings?

In a report titled “Cronin’s Cronies,” the Better Government Association suggests that the Republican chairman may be cozying up to establishment Democrats.

Four companies with ties to important Illinois state legislators, companies that have previously done little work in DuPage County, have received over $300,000 in county work since Republican Dan Cronin became DuPage County Board chairman, the watchdog group Better Government Association (BGA) is reporting.  In an article entitled “Cronin’s Cronies,” the BGA speculates that Cronin’s administration could be selectively contracting in order to curry favor with Democrats for his legislative agenda and his political future.  Three of the four mentioned ties are with Democrats—a financial services company who employs House Speaker Michael Madigan’s son, and two law firms at which Senate President John Cullerton and state senator Don Harmon are …

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DuPage County Board Approves 2013 Budget

The DuPage County Board approved its budget for fiscal year 2013 and it is $7.3 million less than the previous year. Learn where some of the cuts being made.

The DuPage County Board Tuesday approved a Fiscal Year 2013 budget that is $7.3 million less than the previous year. The $432.6 million budget represents his commitment to reduce the financial burden of government on taxpayers, DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin said in a statement. Since taking office, Cronin has reduced the County’s budget by more than $13 million.  “It is important that we demonstrate to taxpayers that government can make the sacrifices necessary to meet the bottom line. The Fiscal Year 2013 budget is a testament to that pledge," Cronin said in the release. Finance Chairman Paul Fichtner said this is the fifth consecutive year that the County has not raised property taxes.  “While many levels of government are …

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DuPage County Reduces Proposed 2013 Budget By $8.1 Million

Personnel reductions, changes in personnel benefits and reforms have helped the country reduce its budget for 2013.

DuPage County plans to reduce its 2013 budget by $8.1 million. Officials say those cuts will come without residents having to pay higher property taxes. The proposed 2013 spending plan is $431.8 million and includes a reduction in full-time employees. The budget also benefits from reforms instituted in the county including a reduction in the use of credit cards, cellphones and other unnecessary items and Election Commission cuts. The proposed budget is $8.1 million lower than the current budget, according to DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin. He presented the proposed budget to the public on Monday. According to Cronin, some of the specifics highlighted in the fiscal year 2013 budget are: Reforms to personnel benefits, which were …

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County Referendum on Dual Elected Duty will be on November Ballot

Referendum is advisory; DuPage Chairman Dan Cronin says County Board duties require "undivided focus."

Editor's Note: The following information was provided by DuPage County officials. DuPage County voters will be asked this November whether one elected official should be permitted to hold more than one elected office at the same time. The DuPage County Board Tuesday approved an advisory referendum question that will appear on the November general election ballot asking voters: “Should Illinois law permit an individual to hold two or more public elected offices simultaneously?” DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin sought the referendum question in order to gauge the public’s sentiment on the issue. Two sitting DuPage mayors are running for election to the DuPage County Board this fall, Elmhurst Mayor Pete DiCianni and Burr Ridge Mayor …

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DuPage Chairman Dan Cronin will Ask County Board to Approve Referendum on Dual Elected Duty

Cronin will bring the issue to the board for approval on Tuesday.

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin has announced he will introduce a referendum question on the November ballot regarding dual office holders. According to a press release from the county, if the County Board approves an advisory referendum, it would ask voters if Illinois law should permit an individual to hold two or more local elected offices simultaneously. Cronin will introduce the measure at the County Board meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 26, at the County Board room at 421 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton. The issue of dual elected duty is pertinent to two DuPage County mayors who are running for County Board, Elmhurst Mayor Peter DiCianni and Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso. Both have said they would like to retain their …

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Dan F.

9:46 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Exactly right. Chairman Cronin should look in the mirror first. Twenty years of being a RINO lackey for Madigan has it's benefits.   more ›

Local Leaders React to Cronin's Mission to Consolidate Municipalities

Here's what Glen Ellyn Village President Mark Pfefferman and Wheaton Mayor Michael Gresk had to say about the DuPage County board chairman's comments on consolidation.

In an interview with Chicago Crain's, Dupage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin shares his desire to consolidate, or even eliminate some of DuPage County's 400 local government bodies to cut costs.  As one of those 400 separate units of local government, Glen Ellyn Village Manager Mark Franz said the village is already working with other municipalties to realize savings. As part of his plan, Cronin says he would like to see a consolidation of fire districts to save costs on expensive equipment but Franz points out that the volunteer services of Glen Ellyn's Volunteer Fire Department save taxpayers nearly $3 million every year. "I think conceptually consolidation makes some sense but it's not a cure-all," said Franz.  For example, the …

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Jeff Ward: DuPage County Needs to Do Some Political House Cleaning

Ah! But my esteemed Kane Countians get to take the week off!

My fine Kane County compatriots! You’ve done well. Political perfection may be a pipe dream, but I have to say that things are looking a little better out here because of your recent voting proclivities. The sheriff who thought he was king is long gone and Pat Perez has done a phenomenal job in his place. In fact, he’s done so well that I’ve been encouraging him to consider a third term. You might want to do the same thing. Once stripped of her County Board cronies, Chairman Karen McConnaughay fled for Springfield faster than a Rush Limbaugh advertiser jumped ship. She’ll do far less damage down there and fit in perfectly with that group of ineffectual state senators. You saw right through Cathy Hurlbutt’s court clerk makeover attempt, you…

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