Beverage Tax and Layoffs Main Topics at Public Hearing on Proposed County Budget

Cook County Board Finance Committee Budget Hearings
Public Hearing - County Board Room
October 31, 2016 -  9 am to 2 pm

Well over 100 speakers registered to speak, meaning that there was not sufficient room for all to be in the room at the same time.  A Spanish interpreter was made available for anyone needing that service.

Commissioners Present:  Because this observer was not able to be in the room, it was difficult to tell which Commissioners were there for the hearing.  However, it was clear from the live stream that showed the entire Board floor from time to time that for much of the meeting there were only a few Commissioners present at any given time.  Chairman Daley was there throughout.

Meeting Highlights:

• The Civic Federation, a nonpartisan government research organization, is supporting the proposed budget which it feels is reasonably balanced between new revenues and spending reductions.  Concern was expressed about the falling County revenues and the pension costs, as well as questions about the extra pension funding the County is doing over the statutory limit.  The full 95 page analysis is available HERE.
• By far the majority of the speakers were there to either support or object to the proposed sweetened beverage tax of one-cent per ounce that, if passed, would take effect on July 1, 2017.
  1. Those supporting argued that it would raise needed revenues to balance the budget and was preferable to cutting employees and services or to raising other taxes, particularly the property tax.
  2. Those supporting also argued that it would discourage people from purchasing sweetened beverages, citing the number of people dealing with diabetes and obesity and the attendant health costs that affect all.
  3. Those objecting to the tax said that it was mainly to raise revenue and if it were truly about improving health, the tax would not be applied to artificially sweetened beverages.
  4. Those objecting to the tax also cited the burden being placed on businesses which are faced with a number of new taxes this year and next, which the speakers say will result in layoffs.
  5. However, there were no suggestions provided as to where the County could replace the revenue expected to come from this tax.
• The other major topic raised was the proposed layoffs to reduce staff
  1. The toxicology department (about 9 positions) in the Medical Examiner’s Office; the proposal is to instead utilize an outside lab.  Although a Request for Proposal has not yet been issued, the Medical Examiner has stated that she estimates that this outsourcing would save $1 million and would result in faster turnaround times.  There were several speakers who were the affected employees.
  2. There were questions from several Commissioners of the speakers which reflected the Commissioners’ skepticism as to whether this is a good proposal.
  3. There are also a number of positions in the Health & Hospitals System being eliminated.  There were several speakers who are currently Licensed Practical Nurses who are losing their jobs in the emergency room at Stroger who argued that they provide needed services which would be lost.
  4. A speaker who currently works in the Recorder of Deeds office also spoke against the 17 employees losing their jobs there.
  5. However, there were no suggestions as to where the money would come from to cover the costs of retaining any of these positions.

Observer - Priscilla Mims