Cook County Board Approves 2023 Tax Levy and Agreement to MakeSupplemental Payments to Pensions

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting
December 15, 2022

This was the first regular meeting of the Cook County Board for the new fiscal year of 2023 that began December 1, and was conducted in just over an hour.  

Two key items were approved:

• The 2023 property tax levy of $797.5 M, that is consistent with the 2023 budget passed in November.  (Agenda Item 23-0392)
• The intergovernmental agreement with the Pension Fund which is the vehicle used by the County to provide additional contributions.  For 2023, the additional monies will be $291.7 M.  These contributions are funded by a portion of the sales tax increase of 1 cent that took effect in 2016.  Commissioner Daley pointed out these additional payments to date have totaled $2 Billion, and have resulted in a Fund that is 67% funded. (Agenda Item 23-0474)

Because most items that were in Committee as of November 30 were not carried over, there were several items on the agenda that were revised versions of prior resolutions, and those and a number of other key items were referred to Committees:
To Legislation & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee:

• The proposed appointment of Tanya B. Anthony as the new Chief Financial Officer.  Ms. Anthony is a prior Budget Director and currently is the Chief Administrative Officer.  (Item 23-0442)
• The proposed appointment of Zahra Ali to replace Ms. Anthony as Chief Administrative Officer.  (Item 23-0556)
• The proposed appointments of Mia Webster Cross and Tanya R. Sorrell to the Cook County Health Board of Directors.  (Items 23-0586 and 23-0595)
• The report from the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues on “Continued Support of Survivors of Gender-Based Violence.”  (Item 23-0563)

To Finance Committee:

• A proposal sponsored by Commissioner Anaya to create a 2023 Property Tax Relief Loan Program.  This provides for a loan for qualifying owners for 10 years at 3% interest.  (Item 23-0593)
• Another proposal from Commissioner Anaya is to create an Historic District Preservation Exemption to lower the property tax for owners who own a property within a historic district and who have low- or middle-income tenants who have resided in the property for a minimum of 5 years.  To be eligible, the property must also have an assessment that exceeds one and a half times the percentage median assessment increase within the district.  Com. Anaya stated that this will take some State Action in order to enact.  (Item 23-0594)

To Health & Hospitals Committee:

• A resolution requesting a committee meeting to receive updates from Cook County Health and the Dept. of Public Health on Covid.  Commissioner Miller explained that as was the case for the one that just expired, this will likely be held in committee so there can be monthly updates, but Comm. Miller said that this one includes updates on other infectious diseases. (Item 23-0469)
• A resolution requesting a committee meeting for a report from senior staff at Cook County Health.  Like the item above, this will likely be held in committee so these reports will be given monthly.  (item 23-0202)
• A resolution to have semi-annual reports detailing behavioral services provided by Cook County Health, the Department of Public Health, Cermak Health, the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, the Sheriff, the State’s Attorney, the Chief Judge, and the Public Defender.  One of the stated purposes is to see whether there are overlaps and/or gaps in services provided by these different County areas.  Another purpose is to assess costs and effectiveness of the services.  This resolution is similar to the one previously in effect, except that the reports will now be twice a year, rather than quarterly.  The committee will review the reports in July and December. (Item 23-0523)
• The semi-annual report on Health Disparities from the Dept. of Public Health.  (Item 23-0555)

To Technology Committee:

• A proposed amendment to the Technology Reporting Ordinance that requires semi-annual updates (in April and October) from the offices under the President and the separately elected offices related to their strategic initiatives.  In addition, an annual Technology Strategic Plan is to be submitted each January.  All the criminal justice offices are to present their offices’ progress toward an automated, integrated criminal justice system in October.  The Chief Information Security Officer is to submit a report on relevant information security issues annually in March. (Item 23-0557)
• The Assessor’s strategic plan for 2023.  (Item 23-0296)

During the Public Comment portion of the meeting, one of the Cook County Interpreters talked about the value provided by the interpreters and the need for them to have a just contract put in place.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims