Budget and Structure Interest Group

Topics of Focus

• Cook County and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District ("MWRD") government organization and oversight, including ethics
• Transparency of board operations
• Observation and reporting of the budget processes 
• Follow-up on applicable Cook County League positions and past studies(e.g., performance management and Recorder/Clerk December 2020 merger)

Activities

Meetings are held as needed for the Interest Group to discuss and plan.

Communication with elected officials is through emails, letters and meetings as needed.

See the Budget & Structure Annual Reports for 2019-2020 for Cook County and MWRD.

Publications & Additional Resources

The Saga of the LWVCC’s Budget & Structure Interest Group: Successes Include Elimination of County Recorder of Deeds Office - Read the full story of League involvement in this process.

Study for the November 8, 2016 Referendum to Abolish the Elected Office of the Recorder of Deeds and to Transfer the Duties of that Office to the Cook County Clerk - The full LWVCC Study in support of a YES vote on the November Referendum Question 

STAR Study - The Report of the LWVCC Study Group on Cook County Government's STAR Performance Management System - Issued on March 10, 2015

5 Fast Facts Voters Should Know about Cook County's Budget & Structure

1. Cook County has 5.2 million people, the second largest county in the U.S.
2. Cook County is governed by a 17-member Board, elected by district every 4 years, plus 11 other “executive” officials, most of whom are elected county-wide for 4-year terms:  President, Assessor, Clerk of the Court, County Clerk, Recorder, Sheriff, State’s Attorney, Treasurer, and 3 members of the Board of Review elected by district.
3. The 2020 budget is $6.18 billion:  45% is for healthcare; 21% is for public safety; and the remaining 33% covers other government functions (e.g., economic development, elections, and property assessments and recording) plus such costs as annuity & benefits and debt payments.
4. Fees for services (including health care) provide 48% of the County’s revenues; sales taxes provide 14%; and property taxes provide 13%.  The base property tax levy of $720.4 million has not risen since 1996.
5. Cook County has about 22,000 employees.  www.cookcountyil.gov

Five Fast Facts Voters should know about the MWRD's Budget & Structure

1. The MWRD’s area encompasses almost all of Cook County, and it serves 129 communities.  The MWRD treats an average of 1.4 billion gallons of wastewater per day, with a capacity of up to 2 billion gallons at 7 treatment plants.
2. It is also responsible for stormwater management through a Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (aka “Deep Tunnel”), intergovernmental agreements for river bank restoration, water retention basins, and other initiatives such as green infrastructure grants.
3. The MWRD is governed by a Board of 9 Commissioners elected district-wide with 6-year staggered terms.  An Executive Director, chosen by the Board, manages the day-to-day operations.
4. The 2020 budget is $1.15 billion, with 68.7% ($790 million) of the revenues coming from property taxes.
5. The MWRD has 1,953 employees.  www.mwrd.org

Learn More

For more information contact Pris Mims