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 including Chicago, and it serves 129 communities.  It treats over 1.4 billion gallons of wastewater per day – with a capacity of up to 2 billion gallons at its seven treatment plants.
2. It is also responsible for stormwater management and flood control through proper watershed regulations, watershed planning and local and regional projects including:  massive reservoirs, miles of stream improvements, underground detention [aka “Deep Tunnel”], permeable parking lots, alleys, and schoolyards, and the removal of thousands of yards of debris from local streams.
3. The District is governed by a Board of nine Commissioners elected District-wide with six-year staggered terms.  An Executive Director, chosen by the Board, manages the day-to-day operations.
4. The 2023 budget is $1.624 billion with $679 million coming from property taxes. The Stormwater budget increased by $33 million to $129 million. 
5. Of the 1,957 FTE’s, 100 are allocated to the Stormwater budget.​ www.mwrd.org

Learn More

For more information contact Pris Mims