In a January 2, 2012 Daily Herald article, Dupage County Board Chairman, Dan Cronin outlined his goals for 2012. The themes to the Chairman’s goals were based around the idea of streamlining county government to make it more efficient and responsive to the taxpayers. Many Dupage County voters understand and support what he argues is at the heart of his goals for 2012.
It’s no longer an issue that breaks down on partisan lines that government should be streamlined to deal with the needs more effectively of Dupage residents. Many layers of Government in Dupage have grown too large, take in too much and are no longer responsive to the needs of tax payers. The era of big government should be declared over from now until forever in Dupage County.
While the Chairman sketched a broad agenda, he never told Dupage Residents where he would take the savings from streamlining to reinvest. A recent PBS special which aired on December 30, 2011 detailed the rise of poverty in Dupage County and their findings were scary to say the least.
Many Dupage Residents are waiting for our elected officials to lead on the economy. Clearly the Workforce Development Board is an area that is primed for increased investment.
The County Coroner’ office, among many more I could provide, presents a glaring opportunity to streamline Government in Dupage.
The Coroners site says it best when it touts its accomplishments in recording only 14 homicides in 2009, a 13 month period several years ago with no homicides and a record unequaled when matched up against similarly situated counties.
These accomplishments present a great opportunity to streamline government and move to a Medical Examiner like Cook County did in the 1970’s to increase efficiencies. Again this is just one example. I wanted to hear the Chairman come out for doing the big things; really restructuring our county government and making it work for the tax payers.
Surely, many can all agree the County Coroner’s office doesn’t need to be a partisan elected office and that it should be folded into the Health Department to realize savings.
There are duplications in the Recorders and Clerks office that need to be addressed as well. The pressure to streamline functions of government must be brought to bear internally at the County Board and the Departments before the coalitions to solve the problems of possible duplication with other levels of government are even addressed.
I agree with the Chairman’s underlying goals that everything should be on the table to solve the problems. In the same vein, everything should be on the table including looking at eliminating some of the elected offices at the county level to realize savings and serve the taxpayers more efficiently.
Terrell Barnes
Democratic Candidate for Dupage County Board 6