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Cook County Board takes steps to shorten regular board meetings by rescheduling commendations

11/23/2016

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Cook County Board of Commissioners Board Meeting - November 16, 2016

Item of Interest:
Cook County Commissioners agreed to a rule change  designed to shorten regular meetings by moving the usual set of commendations, resolutions, and congratulations of notable achievements (Consent Agenda) from the Board meeting agenda to a special meeting once a month meant only for these acknowledgments. (Agenda item 16-4645) 
  • This special meeting will be held  at 9 am prior to the regular meetings of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, effective January 1, 2017. 
  • The rule change was sponsored by Commissioners Larry Suffredin and John Daley, and was crafted after the public and the Commissioners themselves complained that these photo opportunities and congratulations often took longer than the regular work of the Board, imposing on those being celebrated, as well as on public speakers and others seeking to address issues before the Cook County Commissioners.
  • As veteran Commissioner Jerry Butler (3rd district) put it "We have met the enemy and it is us."
  • Comm. Timothy Schneider (15th district) was the only "no" vote on the new ordinance, saying the rule change was not necessary.
  • The League of Women Voters of Cook County advocated for the rule change.   In a statement following the vote, the League noted: "We believe this action will be beneficial to all, including those being honored, who will no longer have to wait, usually hours past the scheduled time of the Board meeting, before the Consent Agenda is taken up."
Observer - Laurie Morse
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Cook County Board Approves $4.4B Amended FY17 Budget on Party Lines after a Sometimes Heated Meeting

11/17/2016

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Cook County Board of Commissioners - Finance Committee and Board Meeting
November 15, 2016

Approving the budget (11):  Arroyo, Boykin, Butler, Daley, Fritchey, Gainer, Garcia, Moore, Sims, Suffredin, and Tobolski.
Voting no were the 4 Republicans:  Goslin, Morrison (stated reason was because he was against the sweetened beverage tax), Schneider (noted the budget was $3 billion in 2010 and believes more cost-cutting and efficiencies could have been realized for this budget), and Silvestri.
Absent:  Moody (in the hospital) and Steele (recovering). 

Twenty-seven amendments were filed and then posted the day before for consideration by the Finance Committee.  Commissioner Morrison complained a number of times that this did not provide him sufficient time to properly consider the merits and issues with each.  The League in the past has urged that there be more time provided for review of amendments by both the Commissioners and the public.  Probably because of the insufficient review time, there were 9 substitute amendments that were written during the meeting.  Most of these were not posted in time for this observer to see them during the discussion and vote by the Board.  

Several amendments were “technical” in nature, meaning that they had the approval of the appropriate departments and the Budget Department and simply moved money and positions from one area to another within that department.

The amendments generating the most discussion included:
  • Amendment 9-S to require any contract for outside services for the Medical Examiner’s lab services to be approved by the Board, even if under the $150,000 threshold that normally does not require prior Board approval.  The issue here is the proposal to outsource the services provided by the Toxicology Lab, whose employees have received notices of termination by March 1.  The Medical Examiner again reiterated that outsourcing should both save $1 million and result in much faster results for both normal and comprehensive lab tests from an outside lab.  Commissioner Suffredin sponsored this Amendment in order to keep the Board involved in the process of obtaining the new contract with an outside lab, which he fears may not be in place by March 1.  Other Commissioners did not want to deviate from current procurement practices and Board approval requirements.  Failed.
  • Amendment 10-S which drains the remaining amount in the Children’s Waiting Room Special Purpose Fund in order to fund the new and existing waiting rooms, which will now be at all 7 courthouses.  Commissioner Suffredin stressed that some additional funding mechanism will be needed beyond 2017.  Passed.
  • Amendment 13-S-1:  Increases the Turnover Adjustment to be able to fund 4 interpreters for the Public Defender’s office.  Passed (after 2 substitutes needed for this to be correct).
  • Amendment 14 which would have restored 7 of 9 cut investigators in the Public Defender’s Office and added an investigator to the Independent Inspector General’s office.  Failed because the money was coming from the Clerk of the Court’s office, to which she objected and argued the Board did not have the authority to do as it would mean that the Clerk could not carry out her duties.  There was a long discussion back and forth between the Commissioners and the representative from the Clerk of the Court and an Assistant State’s Attorney over the power of the Board.  Commissioner Boykin stated that Commissioners were going after the Clerk and race was involved.  This led Commissioner Fritchey to take offense and heated words were exchanged.  Ultimately, it appeared that this Amendment failed because there was not sufficient time to consider the ramifications if this passed.
  • Amendment 17-S which would have set up a line item for income from any court order directing up to 90% of bail deposit money to be paid to the County for the work of the Public Defender.  Under existing Illinois law this can be done on motion by the State’s Attorney or Judge (and is regularly done for private attorneys), but the County doesn’t have a line item for this income so does not factor it in in the budget.  The Public Defender, who opposed this Amendment not wanting any money to be directed from the refundable bail, even to help fund her office, said that this year she estimates $70,000 will be collected.  Public speakers had also objected to this.  Failed.
  • Amendments 4-S and 5-S which give each of the 16 Commissioners the same pot of money ($399,999, plus $50,000 more for the Finance Chair) which they are to identify how to allocate.  Commissioner Sims stated that she thinks that the longevity of the staff should be considered which would rightly result in some Commissioners (such as her) getting more money to pay higher salaries reflecting the longer service of the employees.  Nevertheless, this Passed.
  • Amendments 19-S and 20-S which adds 5 positions to the Board of Review plus $150,000 for appraisals in order to better defend appeals of its decisions to the Illinois Board of Appeals.  When the Board of Review loses those appeals (generally involving well-funded commercial and high-rise residential properties), the County and all the other property taxing bodies (schools, villages, libraries, etc.) have to refund taxes.  So the concept is that by spending $500,000, the County might save up to $13 million, and the other taxing bodies much more.  Currently, the County has $34 million in potential liability and the other taxing bodies $500 million as a result of pending appeals. Passed.

​Observer - Priscilla Mims
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Taxpayer Subsidy to CCHHS Down by 77% Since 2009; Still Projected to Run a $221M Deficit in 2017 Due in Large Part to Uncompensated Care

11/17/2016

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Cook County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee - Departmental Budget Hearings 
October 18, 2016

Cook County Health and Hospital System - presented by
 Dr. Jay Shannon, CEO


Proposed Budget: 
FY17 - $1.849 Billion dollars  
FY16 - $1.714 Billion dollars  
Net gain of $135,000,000

Proposed FTEs:
FY17 - 6,865  
FY16 - 6,736 
Net gain of 129 FTEs


Key Information Presented by Department:
  • Projected revenues CountyCare (expanded Medicaid paid federally under ACA) $802,274,000 total (only $221 M retained by CCHHS; remaining paid to other network providers)   Traditional Medicaid, Medicare & Private Insurance ($371,119,290)  DSH ($165,700,000); BIPA ($132,337,500) and “Other” ($11,000,000)---virtually all of revenues come from Federal and State entitlement program payments 
  • Subsidy contributed by Cook County taxes, budgeted in 2017 to decreased to $110 M, plus statutory pension & legacy debt service of $184.3 M (total $295.6 M)
  • Proposed 2017 budget shows a – ($214 M) deficit; much due to $503 M uncompensated care.
  • New Direct Access program for the uninsured, covering 40,000 lives will cost the system in the short term but with projected savings in the mid-to long term (due to preventative care and less emergency room care).   Funding was not directly addressed.

Questions/Comments from Commissioners:
  • Commissioners Daley, Boykin, Garcia, Moore, and Sims asked numerous questions about staff cuts of clerical and Licensed Practical Nurses
Dr. Shannon explained that 320 FTEs were eliminated and 450 new positions created due to a new staffing model.  Clerical/ administrative assistants who lacked modern IT/computer skills and were not able to acquire them, required to manage new Medicaid contracts could not be used by the System.  LPNs were replaced with RNS who could cross-cover different service areas independently, allowing more efficient staffing.
New hires are skilled in safety, quality assurance, care managers and Medicaid managed care administration.
  • Com. Garcia asked why there appeared to be no progress in increasing the % of FTEs (staff & leadership) that were bilingual.
Dr. Shannon replied that the union contract criteria for hires were based on seniority and not competency in a 2nd language.  New contracts would “require” bilingual competency
  • Com. Suffredin, Morrison, Steele, Butler, Gainer asked various questions for clarification of the 2017 Budget.  Most of the information is available in the budget and strategic plan documents. 

​Observer - Susan Kern
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President Preckwinkle Casts Tie-Breaking Vote, and Sweetened Beverage Tax Is Approved

11/10/2016

1 Comment

 
Cook County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee and Special Board Meeting 
November 10, 2016


Significant Items Discussed/Approved:
After 3 hours of public testimony mixed with pros and cons, the Finance Committee considered the proposed one (1) cent per ounce tax on non-alcoholic beverages that contain any caloric or non-caloric sweetener.  The proposal was amended twice:  once based on an amendment noticed on the County’s web site, and once based on an amendment offered by Commissioner Gainer from the floor.  The final version considered included a provision which reduces the volume on which the tax is based by 5% (increased from 2% in the first amendment) for powdered and syrup product to account for spillage and preparation of the beverage at the retail level. (Agenda Item 16-5931)

The Finance Committee did not recommend that the Board pass this tax since the vote ended in an 8-8 tie.  At the subsequent Special Board Meeting, Commissioner Daley, the chair of the Finance Committee, moved the passage of the item, notwithstanding the failure of the Committee to recommend passage.  Again the Board vote was 8 to 8, which then allowed the President of the Board the ability to cast a vote to break the tie.

Voting for: Commissioners Arroyo, Butler, Daley, Garcia, Moody, Moore, Sims, Suffredin, and President Preckwinkle.
Voting against:  Commissioners Boykin, Fritchey, Gainer, Goslin, Morrison, Schneider, Silvestri, and Tobolski. 
Commissioner Steele was absent, having had surgery earlier in the week and now recovering at home.

Had this tax not passed, there would have been a budget hole that would have needed to have been filled with either additional revenues or additional expense cuts.  Chairman Daley said that there were no revenue proposals that had been offered, and Commissioners have been talking about adding expenses for additional public defenders and maintaining some positions that had been proposed to be eliminated. 

The full budget, along with amendments, will be considered on Tuesday, November 15 at meetings of the Finance Committee and Board.

Other Items:
  • The Board unanimously passed a Resolution stating that, upon passage, implementation, and enforcement of the Sweetened Beverage Tax, the Board will not further increase any of the home rule taxes or the property tax levy beyond the current restrictions for fiscal years 2017, 2018, and 2019. (Agenda Item 16-5932, as amended)
  • The Board unanimously passed the Cook County Taxation Predictability and Long-Term Fiscal Forecasting Amendment.  This codifies the restriction on increasing the sales tax and property tax levy to January 1, 2020, but also provides that before any increase or decrease to the sales tax or property tax levy (above existing restrictions) after January 1, 2020, the Bureau of Finance must provide a forecast of revenues based upon the proposed change, as well as a brief analysis of anticipated expenditures over the next 3 years.  Further, the Board may not increase the sales tax or property tax levy for 36 months after any approved increase without first considering the Bureau of Finance’s fiscal forecast. (Agenda Item 16-5939, as amended).

Observer:  Priscilla Mims
1 Comment

Chief Judge Evans Presents Budget Request for 2017 Cook County Budget

11/3/2016

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Cook County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee - Departmental Budget Hearings 
Day #8 - October 31, 2016


Chief Judge - presented by Tim Evans, Chief Judge        
Proposed Budget: 
FY17 - $286,208,131
            
FY16 - $237,665,358
Proposed FTEs:
FY17 - 3105
       
FY16 -  3175

Key Information Presented:
  • Weekend hearings will be held on juvenile cases so that Juveniles arrested on weekends will not have to be held in detention for long periods of time. Judges will be assigned to weekend duty
  • Juror payments have been decreased to the previous level of $17.20/day; Judge Evans wants to keep the jury pool large so “lawyers can’t game the system.”  and he will present amendments for this.
  • Judge Evans is requesting body cameras for probation officers who make home visits.  Cost for 67 cameras is $316,500.
  • Judge Evans indicated the 4-D program needs 7 more hearing officers to hear domestic relations—divorce issues  but was not specific as to what this program is for or how it works.

Questions/Comments from Commissioners
  • Comm. Boykin expressed concern that defendants with illegal guns are being let go.   Evans said it is parole board that makes that decision; judges are being appropriate in their decisions.  Evans explained the Public Safety Assessment (PSA) and how a defendant can have a low risk score despite being arrested while having a gun.  However, some judges may still hold for bond because of the gun.  Having a gun when arrested shouldn’t be treated the same under all circumstances, but the PSA doesn’t differentiate. “Judges don’t always follow the PSA score recommendation.” He also asked why people are in jail for petty offenses.  Evans would prefer no bail at all, but has to consider the state bail statute.  He stated the use of the new PSA has lowered the jail count.
  • Comm. Silvestri was concerned about the excessive overtime costs at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC).  JTDC Director Leonard Dixon explained that on any given day 35% of staff was out on FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) or regular sick leave.  Social Services department also has a high amount of overtime.  The Human Resources department will provide figures on FMLA leave.  This is a problem throughout the country according to Director Dixon.
  • Asked about released homeless defendants:  Evans said there is nothing in his budget to help find services and home for these people.
  • Asked about the use of the PSA in suburban courts, Evans said there is a timetable for having all courts use the PSA and that all (bond court?) judges have been trained  with good results.  The PSA is used only to assess persons charged with felonies, not misdemeanors.
  • Comm. Steele was concerned about high bail amounts for little crimes.  Evans stated that government officials need to support judges who release defendants based on the PSA and yet they commit another crime.  
  • Restorative Justice procedure explained by Evans.
  • Comm. Gainer asked it the court tracks metrics on how the different judges ruled on bond.  Evans did not want individual judges to be tracked and have this made public.  Clerk Brown previously said these metrics were already being collected and could be released.  Evans will get back to Gainer after speaking with Attorney General Madigan’s office.  Both agreed that judges’ names could be left off the metrics.
  • Comm. Daley submitted a written question regarding excessive management personnel at the Adult Probation Dept.  He is concerned about cost effectiveness and efficiency. Evans’ Executive Officer Anderson answered with a long series of charts and explanations which can be seen on Legistar.  This observer has no idea whether the charts show cost-effectiveness and efficiency or not.
Observer - Karin Hribar 
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 Community Members Bring Concerns to Cook County Budget Hearing in Skokie

11/1/2016

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FY 2017 COOK COUNTY BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING
OCTOBER 24, 2016, 6:30 PM

SECOND DISTRICT COURT HOUSE, SKOKIE, ILLINOIS

The following Commissioners were present: Daley, Goslin, Silvestri, Morrison, Schneider, Steele, Suffredin, Sims, and Garcia. Commissioner Boykin was present for the beginning of the meeting.

There were 51 public speakers expressing their concerns about the proposed 2017 Cook County Budget to a standing room only crowd.

Three major Areas of Concern:
  • 1 cent per ounce proposed tax on sugary beverages 
  • Outsourcing of the toxicology Lab at the Department of the Medical Examiner
  • Increasing the budget of the Public Defender’s office to hire more staff

1 cent per ounce Tax on sugary beverages:
Opposed included the Teamster Union, Pepsi Co, Coca Cola, Dr. Pepper and Snapple Group (including beverage delivery drivers, distributors and managers of plants.), Marcus Theatre, IL Beverage Association, IL Retail Grocery Industry, IL Retail Merchant Association, and IL Committee of Blind Vendors.
Concerns Expressed:
  • There are already too many taxes. 
  • This tax will affect the middle class and is discriminatory.
  • The tax will impact jobs. The public will travel to other counties to buy sugary beverages causing beverage plants to close. This will impact families.
  • Also taxed will be certain waters like Vitamin Water, Iced Teas, Gatorade, and juices.
  • Government should not tell people what to drink.
In favor included IL Rep. Robyn Gable (18th District), Dr. Sanborn - Cardiologist, Dr. Daniel Zeigler - Evanston Health Advisory Center,  IL Public Health Institute, Am. Heart Association, Lurie Children’s Hospital.
Concerns Expressed:
  • The rise in obesity and diabetes especially in children.
  • This tax could improve the fiscal health of Cook County and the health of residents.
  • The revenue from the tax should go to wellness education programs especially in schools and access to health food programs.

Out sourcing of Toxicology Lab at the Medical Examiner's Office
This topic provoked a lot of discussion. Current employees of the Medical Examiner’s office raised the following concerns:
  • Outsourcing would diminish the interaction between pathologist and toxicologists. 
  • Questioned need for updated equipment.
  • Outsource lab would provide what is asked for and not necessarily what is needed.
  • Efficiency of the Lab would be questioned. Employees questioned the goal of the Lab to have 90% of the work out in 60 days. They believe this will not happen if outsourced.
  • In house lab can test for new emerging drugs - concern that outsourced labs will not have information on new classes of drugs. 
Mary McMillian from AFSCME 1276 opposes outsourcing because:
  • Cut 18 of 22 jobs. The lab will only test for carbon monoxide and alcohol deaths. Drug testing will be outsourced.
  • The need to upgrade instruments to keep testing in house is false. Instruments are fine
Dr. Arunkumar, Medical Examiner was present to answer questions from the Commissioners.:
  • Outsourcing would lower the cost of running the office.
  • The time for return on testing results would be lowered to 7-14 days, allowing for more efficiency in the office.
  • There will be more real time analysis of cases and more opportunity to be up to date on new emerging drugs.
  • There is not presently a Chief Toxicologist, difficulty in hiring one. 
  • There is no RFP for a toxicology company, that is certified and can do the testing.  There are not many labs and none in Illinois
  • Staff needs training in new instruments
  • Question was raised as to whether staff are licensed, certified or both. Told employees are licensed but not certified. 
There were a lot of concerns with the Medical Examiner’s office.  Commissioners have requested a meeting with Dr. Atunkumar.

Public Defender's Need for More Staff
Kevin Ochalia, AFCME Local 3715, Stephanie Schleger, Public Defender’s Office, and Jeanne Bishop, Public Defender’s office, spoke to the need to increase funding in the budget for the Public Defenders Office.
  • To protect citizens, protect the innocent, and protect the accused.
  • Too many cases - not enough staff to do the work.

Other Concerns:
  • Joy Wikowski from CC Access To Care, wanted to make sure they will get the total amount of money in the proposed budget. This is needed to make sure poor have access to care in the communities where they live.
  • Margaret Stapelton, Sargent Shriver Poverty Center, supports sugar tax, bail system with no money bond, to use affordable care-Medicaid for the Criminal Justice system. 
  • Elizabeth Clark, Juvenile Justice Initiative, concerned about incarcerated children. She believes that there should be reduced incarceration and community alternative programs for children.

Observers - Nancy Marcus and Sue Kravis
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