Cook County Board Meeting - February 10, 2016

Standout Decision for Meeting:   
The Cook County Commissioners unanimously supported a resolution urging the US government to grant non-citizen Veterans and their families the right to remain legally in the country despite minor non-violent offenses that may have been committed and caused deportation.  Both Republican and Democratic commissioners joined to support the resolution. 

Significant Decisions Made:  
The board also passed a resolution urging the State legislature to restore the 12 month grace period before Cook County properties will be offered up to tax debt buyers.

Significant Topics Discussed:
A tax incentive for Walmart to locate in Homewood on a vacant rental property was referred to the Economic Development Committee  (Item 16-0456). Many commissioners pushed back regarding offering lower taxes to Walmart.  Com. Murphy presented the item, and said the alternative was their moving to Indiana.  They recently announced the closure of the Matteson Walmart store (in Com. Sims’ district), and this is an effort to keep them in the community.  Com. Garcia said he would give the item a vigorous hearing during committee.

Items to Watch for in the Future:

• It was noted that the State of IL owes $1.3 Million in back rent for various offices at 69 West Washington.  Secretary of State Jesse White’s office is up to date.
• Com. Fritchey complained about extravagant spending on parking by Cook County.  The States Attorney brought forward an expenditure for $0.5 Million to rent parking spaces at Clark and Lake parking garage for 14 different agencies for a total of 64 spaces @ $153 per month.  (The amount approved covers parking for 6 months.)
• John Yonan, CC Superintendent of Transportation and Highways, is still cleaning  up and closing the files of completed road and bridge projects, some as old as 1999 that were never closed by the previous superintendent.  These, of necessity, require allocating funds to formally close the various projects.  He had $400 million in outstanding open projects and is down to $80 million now, so has made headway.
• Mr. Yonan also spoke about the benefit of the Federal Transportation Bill to Chicago because it is considered the freight capital of the country.  Significant money will be spent to make sure that railroad crossings and the main arteries into the city, North Avenue and Roosevelt Road, are controlled and timed for speedy freight delivery.
• When Com. Boykin complained there were few transportation projects in the 1st district, Yonan vowed to help commissioners find money from block grant funding and other sources to bring to their districts.

Observer: Amy Little                           Meeting Length - 3 hours

Finance Committee Meeting of the Cook County Board - February 9, 2016  

Significant Decision Made: 
The Committee unanimously approved a resolution calling upon the State's Attorney to:

1. Review existing court orders and consent decrees that authorize the State to make payments to see if any of these might cover payments to the County, or be amended to do so.
2. Research whether a cause of action could be brought to order the State to pay monies owed to the County.  

The resolution also calls for the Finance Committee to develop a plan for keeping the 2016 budget in balance despite the failure of the State to make payments and is scheduled to be voted on by the Cook County Board at their February 10 meeting.

Background: 
The County’s 2016 budget was balanced based on the expectation of receiving $225.2 million from the State.  However, as a result of the State’s fiscal crisis and the lack of a budget authorizing expenditures, the State is paying monies owed to the County very late, if at all. 

The main concern at the moment is that the County will not receive $31 million broken down as follows:

• $18.6 million from a combination of federal (70%) and state (30%) funds to cover a program for obtaining and enforcing judgements for "poor mothers to obtain child support."  This program encompasses 177 County personnel in the offices of the State's Attorney, Chief Judge, Clerk of the Circuit Court, and the Sheriff.  The Budget Department's slide indicated that 20,000 child support cases are filed annually and result in nearly $30 million in support payments from non-custodial parents.   The federal funds are not being received because they are dependent on Illinois paying its share of the funds for this program, which is not happening.  
• $12.6 million in direct state grants.  Of these, the ones that are causing the most concern are:

                     - $1.8 million for the Adult Redeploy program, 
                     - $2 million (to date, but more costs will be incurred) for the State's             Attorney's Appellate Assistance Program (which has to be done, so if the State isn't covering it, the County will have to)
                     - $2.1 million for the Department of Public Health to conduct inspections that are mandated by the State (so again, if the State won't pay, the County will have to)
                    - $1.8 million for a street project at 167th Street in Harvey that is already underway by the County, but for which word has been received that state funding (previously granted) will not be coming. 

Observer: Priscilla Mims