Finance committee approves transfers for one-time IT and courtroom seating; debate continues over moving costs from FY2026

The DuPage County Board Finance Committee voted Aug. 26 to transfer contingency funds into infrastructure and equipment lines to pay for one-time capital items — including new laptops, UPS backup power and replacement courtroom seating — that the chair and finance leaders say will relieve pressure on the proposed FY2026 budget.
What passed: The committee approved a transfer of $364,300 from general fund contingencies to purchase IT equipment (laptops and UPS units) and later approved a $130,000 transfer from contingencies for replacement of worn public gallery seating in four courtrooms. Facilities staff subsequently presented and the county later awarded a contract to Kruger International Inc. for replacement gallery seating in multiple courtrooms for a contract amount not to exceed $129,722.56.
Why it matters: The chair and the finance leadership said the county received $34 million in excess departmental requests for FY2026 and are pulling out one-time capital needs now — jury/galleries seating, radios, laptops — so those costs do not compound the FY2026 operating pressure. Chair Conroy said those items are "one-time expenses," and moving them into the current fiscal year makes balancing next year’s budget easier.
Points of contention: Several board members objected to approving FY2026 items before the board had reviewed the chair’s FY2026 budget. Member Zay said the board “has not even seen the Chair's 2026 budget yet” and called the transfers premature. Others asked for a list of all potential items, projected contingency balances and a public discussion so the full board could prioritize larger needs such as food insecurity or roads.
A motion to postpone two agenda transfers (6D and 6E) for two weeks so staff could make a presentation and members could vote after hearing details was moved and seconded but failed on roll call 10 no, 8 yes. After the failed postponement, members approved the transfers by roll call votes and then approved the procurement contract for gallery seating during the same session.
Public-safety radios: Members repeatedly raised the sheriff’s radio replacement, which finance staff said could be a more than $1.8 million pressure on FY2026 if not funded now. Some members described radios as essential public-safety equipment; others urged additional board-level discussion given the size of the expense.
Procurement and timing: Facilities staff explained that timing and procurement rules required certain steps to hit posting deadlines, which was the reason some seating replacements were discharged from committee and presented directly to finance. Facilities staff said the county is working to reuse or recycle old equipment where practical and that seating replacement on a rolling schedule depends on condition and usage.
Next steps: Finance staff said they would bring more information on radios (including a presentation by Linda Zerwin) to the next meeting. Committee members requested earlier presentations and more consolidated lists of one-time capital requests before transfers are placed on agendas in the future.