Cook County Special Finance Committee and Special Board Meeting
May 24, 2022
 
By a vote of 13 to 4, the Finance Committee and then the Board approved Item 22-2825, which provides for a 10% increase as of the beginning of the new terms of all County Elected Officials, effective December 2022 (2024 for the Clerk of the Court).  Thereafter, the salaries will be further adjusted each year by the lower of 3% or the change in the Chicago Consumer Price Index.  Such yearly adjustments would continue until and unless there was a vote by the Board to halt or change such adjustments.  The 4 nay votes came from Commissioners Aguilar, Arroyo, Deer, and Sean Morrison.  
 
Prior to the vote, Commissioner Suffredin announced that he would be introducing an ordinance at the June Board meeting which would call for another study of salaries of comparative positions in other jurisdictions in late 2024, with any additional salary changes to be voted on by the end of March 2025.  As explained by Commissioner Suffredin, this would provide notice to any potential candidates for the elected positions of what the salaries would be effective with the new terms that would begin in 2026 and 2028.
 
The Civic Federation in verbal testimony and the League of Women Voters of Cook County in written testimony both expressed support for the salary increases for the next terms.  However, both opposed the continuation of yearly adjustments beyond the 4-year terms without further study and affirmative vote.  Expressing opposition to any salary increases was former Commissioner and current candidate for Cook County President Richard Boykin.  
 
Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting
May 12, 2022

Commissioners Anaya, Miller, and Gainer questioned Cook County Health’s Chief Executive Officer Israel Rocha concerning a proposed transfer of funds and the continuing problem of filling nursing positions.  Commissioner Gainer asked CEO Rocha to report back to this Board next month on the measures being taken to improve the hiring process.  Commissioner Sims said part of the problem is due to following all the steps required under the Shakman consent order.  CEO Rocha said his staff has been working with the Office of the Independent Inspector General to see what changes could be made.

The Board approved the following:

• Appointment of current County Comptroller Lawrence L. Wilson as Acting Chief Financial Office as of June 11 to replace Ammar Rizki who is stepping down as Chief Financial Officer on June 10.  Mr. Rizki will take that same position at the Obama Foundation. (Item 22-3267)
• An amendment to the intergovernmental agreement with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District for the County’s Office of the Independent Inspector General to continue to provide such services to the MWRD for an additional year, from May 17, 2022 to May 16, 2023. (Item 22-3020)

The Board referred to the Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee:

• The proposed appointment of Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck as Chief Operating Officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health. (Item 22-3342)  Separately, the Commissioners passes a resolution honoring Dr. Rachel Rubin and Dr. Kiran Joshi for their service as Interim Co-Leads of the Department.  (Item 22-3308)
• A proposed resolution announcing a new flag for Cook County.  However, there were blanks where the name of the flag and the designers should be.  (Item 22-341)

The Board referred to the Rules Committee:

• A resolution declaring racial or other discriminatory covenants in real estate recordings to be void pursuant to the County’s Human Rights Ordinance.  The Count Clerk has said her office stands ready to process applications to eliminate such covenants from deeds. (Item 22-3150)
• Proposed changes to the “public facing rules and regulations” of the Board of Ethics Procedural Rules as a result of the change in the County’s Ethics Ordinance.  (Item 22-3155)

The Board referred to the Technology and Innovation Committee:

• An extension of the contract with Tyler Technologies for the period of April 1, 2023 thru March 31, 2026 for an additional $8.4 million for the centralized property tax system for the Assessor, Clerk, and Treasurer.  (Item 22-2917)  This system has been a source of controversy, including in the issues regarding the delays to the 2nd installment property tax bill to be sent out this year.  
• Approval of $6.3 million for a new case management system for the State’s Attorney’s office to replace the current Juvenile Justice system that is on the main frame, as well as the Adult Criminal system (not on the main frame).  When this work is completed, the State’s Attorney will no longer have any processes on the main frame.  (Item 22-1112)

The Board referred to the Litigation Finance Subcommittee the 2022 1st Quarter Inspector General’s Report.

League Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Cook County Board Finance Committee Meeting
May 11, 2022

The Commissioners agreed to consider a Substitute to replace the original version of a proposed ordinance to increase the salaries of all County elected officials.  However, the Commissioners further agreed to delay voting on the merits of the Substitute to a meeting of the Committee to be held later this month.  The League of Women Voters of Cook County, both in written and verbal testimony at this meeting had urged this delay in order to provide the public more time to review and provide input on this proposal.  (Item 22-2825)

Under the Substitute

• As set forth in a chart, the salaries of all County Elected Officials will be raised by 10% as of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 which begins in December 2022 when the new terms begin (December 2024 for the Clerk of the Court).  After the initial year, the salaries will be further adjusted by the lesser of 3% or the change in the Chicago Consumer Price Index for FY 2024, 2025 and 2026.  Such salaries have not been raised in 20 years.  The League supports these increases.
• The Substitute also provides that such yearly adjustments shall continue after FY 2026 until and unless there is a vote by the Board to eliminate or amend such increases.  The League urged the deletion of this provision stating that there should be a review and a vote for any further increases.

Also at this meeting

• Commissioner Anaya questioned the amount the County is to pay to the Court-Appointed Administrator for the Shakman case in the Assessor’s office.  Comm. Anaya noted that the amount is much higher than in the past, which surprised her as she understands that the oversight is nearing its end.  The representative from the State’s Attorney said that that office has questioned the Court-Appointed Administrator, who said that there was additional work involved to finish the case.  Comm. Silvestri suggested that the detailed bills could come before the Litigation Subcommittee for further discussion.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Cook County Board Committee Meetings
May 9 and 11, 2022

May 9 Finance Committee meeting –Equity Fund

• The one agenda item was to consider specific proposals for spending $50 M from the Equity and Inclusion Special Purpose Fund.  (Item 22-2779)  The League of Women Voters of Cook County had sought confirmation that the County will identify expected outcomes, ways to measure whether the outcomes were achieved, and who and when will do the measuring, prior to approving money from the Equity Fund.  Lannetta Turner Hayes, the President’s Chief of Staff, made such commitment.  
• The proposal was recommended to be approved and was at the May 12 Board meeting.
• Much of the meeting involved presentations and speakers regarding the April 7 Equity Fund Report which contains recommendations on actions Cook County government should take to address structural barriers that prevent the meaningful advancement of equity across Cook County. Several of these were included in the proposal that was passed. 
  
• The April 7 Equity Fund Report can be found here.

May 11 Business & Economic Development Committee meeting – American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fund

• A Substitute was accepted for the proposal for spending ARPA funds for specific programs under the Vital Communities category.  (Item 22-2807)  This Substitute increased the amounts for the 6 programs listed in the original, and added 2 new programs.  Xochiti Flores, the Bureau Chief of Economic Development, explained that the original version covered only this year, but the Substitute covers 3 years, and, because of the time between the April Board meeting and this meeting, two additional programs were ready for approval.  
• Funds are to be spent on implementing legal aid for housing and debt; an invest in families and youth program, primarily for the suburbs; a community conservation corps for the Forest Preserve District; capacity-building investments in food access sites program; hotel-based sheltering program for the homeless; a recovery initiative for suburban Cook County bureaus for travel, tourism, and hospitality industries; business advisory services geared toward the south suburbs; and assistance for small businesses. 
• The League sought confirmation that, as previously committed by the County, for each of these programs, the County had identified the expected outcomes, ways to measure the outcomes, and when and who will do the measuring.  Comm. Sean Morrison and Chair Bridget Gainer both expressed support, and Bureau Chief Flores agreed that the County was committed to this.  However, this observer did not hear confirmation that this information had been submitted to the Commissioners prior to their vote to recommend approval of this item (which the Board approved on May 12).

May 11 Human Relations Committee meeting – Transgender Issues

• This meeting was a hearing to discuss violence and systematic barriers against Cook County transgender residents. (Item 22-2788)
• Several public speakers detailed why such a hearing was necessary.  Then speakers from Cook County Health, the Medical Examiner’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Human Resources, the State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Justice Advisory Council spoke about what programs they have in place to assist, recognize, and welcome those who identify as transgender. 

May 11 Health & Hospitals Committee meeting – COVID Update

• Cook County Health (CCH) CEO Israel Rocha announced that CCH had administered the 1 millionth dose of the COVID vaccine during the week of May 2.
• The County is now considered at the medium risk level as it has more than 200 cases per 100,000 people.  Thus, people are strongly recommended to wear masks indoors, avoid poorly ventilated indoor settings, and socialize outdoors if possible.
• 86% of suburban Cook County residents have received at least 1 vaccine dose and 65% are considered fully vaccinated.  However, less than 50% of those have received the 1st booster, with far fewer receiving the 2nd booster.  However, there is a problem with data.  People are going to receive their boosters from different providers than those who administered the initial vaccines.  If there is a variation in the patient’s name between the providers (for example, inclusion or elimination of a middle name or initial), the person will be counted as a different person.
• The number of people doing contract tracing for the County has been decreased considerably.  There are currently 45 employees who are expected to continue through the remainder of the year, mainly in connection with congregate settings, such as outbreaks at group care homes, at events, or in workplaces.  The Commissioners were assured that all prior contract tracers were offered other positions within CCH and not simply let go.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims