DuPage County staff presented an update Dec. 9 to the Strategic Planning Committee on fiscal‑responsibility milestones, discussing one‑time ARPA spending, grant administration and a multiyear enterprise resource planning (ERP) effort.

Nicole Wong, the county’s principal budget analyst, told the committee that the fiscal‑responsibility goal is “to maintain the highest standard of financial planning, forecasting, transparency, risk analysis, and innovative management to ensure the county has a sustainable fiscal future.” She detailed seven objectives including personnel retention measures (a cost‑of‑living adjustment and a 12‑week parental leave policy), a newly established land bank to support affordable housing, and capital projects funded with one‑time ARPA and surplus dollars.

Wong said the county administered roughly 107 grant programs with about $95.3 million in expenditures in the FY2024 period and identified major capital work funded with those one‑time resources—projects that include the 503 Judicial Annex, stormwater improvements, HVAC upgrades, a crisis‑recovery center, an animal‑services rehab center and DuPage Care Center remodeling.

On systems modernization, Wong outlined an ERP timeline: an ERP working group formed in 2025, requests for information (RFI) demonstrations planned for February, an intent to issue a request for proposals (RFP) by June, and a planning goal of a December 2026 framework with a projected ERP go‑live in 2030.

Board members raised questions about revenue resilience. One member warned that DuPage’s non‑home‑rule status and heavy reliance on sales tax create risk to bond ratings if a recession hits; an unidentified board member said DuPage’s “biggest Achilles heel” is its sales‑tax reliance. Committee members credited the finance team with receiving Government Finance Officers Association recognition for budget presentation and financial reporting, citing that award as evidence of transparency.

The committee also handled routine business: members moved and seconded approval of the minutes for the regular meeting on Sept. 9, 2025; the chair called the vote and said, “Motion carries.”

The meeting closed with no additional actions on fiscal items; staff said they will continue to work with county board members through 2026 to ensure ARPA funds are spent and to advance the ERP procurement process.