sales tax revenues while keeping the property tax rate unchanged. With sales tax revenues exceeding expectations by $24 million, the budget included funding to replace aging vehicles, support infrastructure projects, and pay down debt issued for draining projects. In August 2022, Cronin drew controversy for appointing LaPlante, who by then had been elected as a county board member, to the county's board of health, declining to reappoint an incumbent Democrat, Paula Deacon Garcia. Garcia's allies on the county board contended that Cronin's successor should make the appointment, but ultimately the board approved LaPlante's appointment. Several Democrats also unsuccessfully opposed Cronin's appointment of Noreen Ligino-Kubinski, former alderman of West Chicago, to the board of the DuPage Airport Authority. In September, Cronin appointed Amy Phillips, a sustainability consultant from Naperville, to fill a vacancy on the county board left by the resignation of Democratic member Amy Chavez. By the end of fiscal year 2022, there was a $40 million surplus. The surplus was driven by sales tax revenues exceeding the county's initial expectations, especially taxes on internet sales, a relatively new source of revenue. Cronin then submitted a budget for fiscal year 2023, his final budget as board chairman. He again kept the property tax rate unchanged, despite local governments being allowed a maximum 5% increase due to high inflation. The surplus from 2022 was allocated towards new projects and employee pay raises. Succession In September 2021, Cronin announced that he would not run for re-election at the end of his term in 2022. At the time, his campaign fund held over $400,000. Though he stated that he was not leaving because of the Democratic majority on the board, he continued to express frustration with the partisan disputes. Supporters have encouraged him to run for statewide or federal office in the future. Cronin was mentioned as a potential challenger to incumbent J. B. Pritzker in the 2022 race for governor, but he dismissed such speculation. He supported Irvin, a candidate in the Republican primary, as a member of Irvin's law enforcement advisory council. Cronin endorsed Hart, who by then had moved to Hinsdale, to succeed him as board chairman during the 2022 elections. Hart won the Republican primary but was defeated by Deb Conroy, a state representative and the Democratic nominee. Cronin intends to serve on nonprofit boards and remain politically active, using his campaign fund to support like-minded candidates. Upon leaving