DuPage County strategic planning meeting may solidify board’s focus over the coming years

Over the last year DuPage County Board officials have touted major changes in legislative priorities, from increased funding for mental health and drug abuse aid to affordable housing programs in Illinois’ wealthiest county.

When discussing board priorities over the next five years DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy has mentioned increasing diversity and inclusion within the county government as a key goal for her time in office.

On Oct. 17, members of the county board met with the consulting firm Berry Dunn to consolidate policy priorities for the next five years.

The two and a half-hour long meeting culminated in a group discussion in which members drafted “aspirational but achievable” goals.

Some were obvious and in keeping with many of DuPage’s goals for the last half century, increase the number of companies operating out of the county while retaining those already doing business, and increase communication within law enforcement departments throughout the area.

However, some of the goals reflected what used to be minority ideas in DuPage County government.

Encouraging the development of a “more efficient and timely” public transportation system was suggested by Strategic Planning Committee Chair Sadia Covert, board member Michael Childress suggested the county do something to address the impact of food desserts and board member Lynn LaPlante brought up providing incentives for businesses to improve environmental sustainability.

Affordable housing became a large talking point for committee, with suggestions of updating zoning and building codes and ways to develop more cost effective homes were thrown out.

In 2023, DuPage held six ad hoc meetings to identify housing solutions.

According to Rocket Homes a real estate company that tracks housing data throughout the U.S., the median price of a home sold in DuPage County was $367,044 last month, a 4% year over year increase, and significantly higher than the median price of homes sold in Kane, Will or Cook County.