Category: Assessor

Much Still to Be Done before Shakman Requirements Will be Met by Three Cook County Offices

3/3/2020

Cook County Board Finance Subcommittee on Litigation
February 25, 2020

The Court-Appointed Compliance Administrators and representatives from the 3 offices under court supervision pursuant to the Shakman settlements updated the Litigation Subcommittee on Feb. 25. The 3 offices are the Recorder of Deeds, the Assessor, and the Clerk of the Court.

Shakman provides that, with just a few exceptions, decisions regarding hiring, firing, promotion, and salaries are to be made free of political considerations. The Recorder’s office has been under court supervision since 2010, the Assessor’s office since 2012, and the Clerk of the Court’s office since August 2018. The Litigation Subcommittee began asking for quarterly updates with the goal of encouraging faster compliance, as recommended by the League.
The Recorder’s office has some serious challenges to coming into substantial compliance by December 2020 due to loss of most of the staff in the Human Resources area, as well as other issues. Commissioner Degnen urged the Recorder to talk to the Clerk about that office providing help with Human Resources since the two offices are to merge in December. The Court-Appointed Administrator does not know what impact the case may have on the Clerk’s office (not currently under court-supervision) once the merger occurs.
While progress has been made in the Assessor’s office, and no new complaints have been filed since the current Assessor took over at the end of 2016, it is likely that substantial compliance will not be reached this year because performance evaluations will not be able to be conducted before the end of this year/early next year. The Assessor’s representative explained that the Assessor needs to complete the property assessments by the end of November, and so it would be difficult to start the evaluations before then.
The Clerk of the Court is making good progress, but is still in the early stages and has much to do before that office can be found in substantial compliance.

Priscilla Mims - Observer

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Cook County Board Approves Homeland Security Department Name Change

11/16/2019

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Cook County Board of Commissioners Committee Meetings - Oct. 23, 2019
Board Meeting - October 24, 2019

The Cook County Board quickly passed an ordinance creating a name change for CC’s Homeland Security Department. The new name is: Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security. The renaming occurred after a CC Homeland Security vehicle created alarm among attendees at an Evanston street fair because they did not differentiate between the Cook County and the US Immigration Homeland Security vehicle signage and therefore were concerned that US ICE Agents were there to round up people with potential immigration issues.

Other Agenda items Passed:

19-5620, Ordinance requiring ballots to be printed in additional languages in time for the 2020 elections. Requires the County Clerk to determine by March 1, 2020, and at least every 3 years thereafter, limited-English-proficient populations of 13,000 or more Cook County residents and then produce special language ballots.
19-5845, The creation of the “Assessor GIS Fund” with language stating that the revenue collected for the Assessor by other County offices from providing GIS data shall go into this new fund. The County Board retains appropriation authority.
19-6117, The renewal of a Springfield lobbying contract. Commissioner Lowery asked for the lobbyist to come to a board meeting or hearing. Commissioner Suffredin responded that a meeting will be scheduled after the IL General Assembly veto session is over.
19-6389, The Human Relations Committee requested a hearing to discuss the final report from the CC Committee on addressing bias, equity, and cultural competency.
19-5830, A review of County policies as well as holding and incarceration practices in light of the recommendations from the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Global Study on children who are confined, jailed, and/or jailed in adult facilities.

Items Referred to Committee:

To Business & Economic Development Committee:

19-6176, Requesting approval to enter into an Interagency Agreement to provide funding to launch and operationalize the Southland Development Authority for large scale and long term economic development in the South Suburbs. Initial amount of $300,000 used to hire an Executive Director for the SDA and based on the SDA’s ability to secure additional material funding.
19-5333, Resolution to establish an enterprise zone in a 15 contiguous square miles of a depressed area including the City of Chicago Heights and several more. Intergovernmental agreements will be required.
19-5632, The Bureau of Economic Development recommends the investment of $4 million in Community Development Block Grant Section 108 funds for low interest financing to support the long term redevelopment of two Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) high rise properties with 226 units of affordable senior housing in the Village of Wheeling and the City of Niles.

To Legislative & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee:

19-6194, Amendment to the Ethics Ordinance that adds calendars, vehicles, and equipment to the list of items that may not have a name or image of an elected official paid for with public funds during an election year if that official is running for re-election.
19-5979, the proposed ordinance to dissolve the Injury Compensation Committee and Advisory Board as it is no longer needed. Appears to be an effort to clean up the Code to eliminate provisions that are no longer relevant.
19-6158, the 3rd quarter report from the Recorders office on its consolidation with the Clerk’s office. Commissioner Suffredin stated that a hearing will be scheduled.

To Rules Committee:

19-4770, Another Just Housing Amendment to a previously passed ordinance defining “demonstrable risk” and requiring landlords to rent to individuals with criminal records after a 5 year period of time with a clean record [sex offenders are not eligible]. Because landlords are very unhappy with the original ordinance, Commissioners continue to work on compromises.

Other Items of Interest:

Although approved without discussion, four public speakers attended the board meeting and asked the commissioners not to appoint Alderman, George Cardenas, to the Environment Committee. Mr. Cardenas was selected by Mayor Lightfoot to represent the City.
The States Attorney’s office received multiple grants from the US Department of Justice to add staff for specific purposes including investigating cold cases older than 3 years; hiring an intellectual property crime attorney and clerk; and increased trauma support for sexual assault victims.
The Justice Advisory Council received a 4 year $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to create a regional coordinated system for returning citizens to receive the appropriate pre and post release (from prison) services. Goal: to reduce recidivism. #19-6162

Observed by: Diane Edmundson

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Cook County Board Begins Budget Hearings on Proposed 2020 $6.18 Billion Budget

10/28/2019

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Cook County Board of Commissioners - Finance Committee
Departmental Budget Hearings
2020 Cook County Executive Budget Recommendation
October 28, 2019

Departments heard from: Chief Financial Officer and Budget Director for Budget Overview, Offices under the President, Treasurer, Cook County Land Bank Authority, Board of Review, and Office of the County Assessor

This is the first of several days during which the Finance Committee (composed of all 17 County Commissioners) is meeting with all County elected officials and their department heads to consider the Proposed Budget. Last week the League of Women Voters of Cook County submitted questions for some of the departments which Committee Chairman John Daley provided to the applicable department and has requested responses. For information on the questions click here.

Overview of President’s Proposed Budget

$6.18 Billion, composed of $2.84 Billion for Healthcare, $1.31 Billion for Public Safety, $527.9 Million for Annuity and Benefits, $491.6 Million for Capital Projects, $374.9 Million for Finance & Administration, $297,6 Million for Debt Repayment, $144.4 Million for Fixed Charges (expenses that are not attributable to any one department, such as utility costs) $113.9 Million for Property & Taxation, and $82.3 Million for Economic Development.
Healthcare and Public Safety make up 67% of the Total Budget
Position counts (“Full Time Equivalents” or “FTEs”) are proposed to decrease by 401 from 2019, for a total of 22,037 FTEs. These are all positions that are currently not filled.
There are no layoffs proposed and no proposed tax or fee increases

Board of Review (BoR) presents its case for $2.8 million more than President recommending

BoR reviews appeals from the property assessments of the Assessor
Commissioners Dan Patlak, Larry Rogers and Michael Cabonargi stated that BoR needs 35 more FTEs than the 142 budgeted for in order to (1) be able to deal with the expected increase in assessment appeals in time so that the 2nd installment tax bills can go out on time, and (2) reduce the amount of overtime and the corresponding wear and tear and loss of existing employees. Cost would be an additional $2.8 million above the proposed $13.5 million budget.
Number of appeals has almost doubled over last 10 years but FTE count has remained essentially flat. Technology has enabled BoR to handle the work increase, but BoR argues that at the end of efficiencies gained from technology and now need more FTEs.
Budget does have 16 more FTEs than 2019, but BoR asking for 35 more
County Commissioners were sympathetic because want to avoid delaying the 2nd installment property tax bill which would hurt all government bodies in Cook County (schools, municipal governments, libraries, park districts, etc.)
However, the question is where will extra money come from? Chairman Daley asked BoR for ideas that would not be a one-time revenue fix (such as TIF surplus) for a cost that will be ongoing

Assessor sees correlation between number of appeals and accuracy of initial assessments

Accordingly, his goal is to hire and train employees and provide better data tools and technology to improve the accuracy and fairness of assessments
Expects that this will take at least 3 years or more as each area of County is reassessed and trust in the assessments improves
Budget of $30 million is $1.6 million more than 2019 and has 17 additional FTEs
Cites new law which he championed that eliminates need for yearly senior exemption requests

Treasurer Pappas touts technology as allowing better services with continued reduction in FTEs

Celebrating 1 million visits to web site that provides information and allows public to do many things that used to require a phone call and/or visit to the Treasurer’s office. Among other tasks the public can do online: see and print out property tax bill; apply for refunds of overpayments; request name and address changes; view the web site in many different languages; see local government bodies financial statements; and make payments
More people now paying online than those making payments at Chase banks
Has 24 Deputy Treasurers from different ethnic backgrounds to help with the outreach being done to communities around the County

Observer: Priscilla Mims

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Several Contracts Questioned by Commissioners at Cook County Board Meeting Especially for Clerk Of Court Brown

9/30/2019

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Cook County Board of Commissioners - Meeting - September 26, 2019
Absent: Commissioner Tobolski

Board Actions:

The Board unanimously voted to DISAPPROVE a contract request (Agenda Item 19-5564) from the Clerk of the Court for $20,000.00 to print 10,000 calendars used in courtrooms and by some attorneys. Objections raised included that paper calendars are an outdated, ineffective method not used by many in the Court system and that they are a political advertisement for the elected official (Clerk Dorothy Brown). An ordinance had previously been passed that disallows the name of elected officials on these types of materials.
Commissioner S. Morrison questioned contract extensions (even beyond the original extension expiration dates) without RFP bids. Procurement should have put out this furniture contract (Agenda Item 19-5580) for re-bid. He asked why this was occurring again and stated that “this sounds like procurement rules aren't being followed.” Asset Management countered that there wasn't time to get a new RFP out but it will be ready for the next round.
Commissioners S. Morrison and D. Miller both voted NO on a contract for the acquisition of property for $15,000,000.00 for a new health clinic (Agenda Item 19-5233). This was discussed in closed session at the Asset Management Committee yesterday (9/25/19). Today the vote for approval by the Board was bundled with several other items with no description.

Items referred to Committees for future discussion and consideration:

(Agenda Item 19-5620) Voting Opportunity and Translation Equity Ordinance was referred to Legislation Committee. This ordinance would have more voting materials translated into more languages for voters who do not speak English. This would encompass 13,000 voters and would be ready for the March elections.
(Agenda Item 19-5629) which would give leniency to municipality-owned parking lots from the new increased Cook County taxes on these lots, was referred to the Finance Committee.

Committee Recommendations Approved:
Very quickly and without much explanation the following committee items were approved by the Board of Commissioners (I may have missed some that were bundled with other items and approved):

(Agenda Item 19-3776) Proposed Cook County Health Preliminary Budget
(Agenda Item 19-5556) a new State’s Attorney program to reduce violence—“a new approach”
(Agenda Item 19-0768) an approved substitute ordinance for the Charitable Rotating Bond Funds which prevents fees, court charges and attorney fees from being taken out of this posted bond. Also it would not prevent a Public Defender from being appointed to the bonded defendant.
(Agenda Item 19-5845) sets up a new Special Purpose Fund in the Assessor’s Office in order to receive their share of GIS distributed funds.

Observed by: Karin Hribar Length of meeting: 1 hour 50 minutes (includes 45 minutes of public speakers)

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Cook County Board Makes Changes to Consent Calendar Meetings

5/29/2019

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Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting - May 23, 2019
Commissioners Absent - Silvestri and Gainer
What did the Board Decide:

The Board approved several changes to the Consent Calendar meetings of the Board including changing the time of the meeting from 9am to 1pm on the scheduled days for the remainder of 2019: allowing each Commissioner and the President to recognize up to two resolutions which will be summarized and not read in their entirety during the meeting - additional resolutions will be entered into the record; and photos will be taken prior to the meeting whenever possible. It is hoped that these changes will allow for more timely honoring of individuals and groups during the meeting and allowing for better scheduling of the other committee meetings. (Agenda Items 19-3601 and 19-3604)
The Board approved an ordinance creating the Good Faith Effort Transparency Reporting that will require more accurate documentation of reasons that contractors or others doing business with the County get waivers from complying with the MBE and WBE requirements in a contract. (Agenda Item 19-2297)
The Board approved a resolution urging the Illinois Legislature to support HB2495, the Reproductive Health Act. (Agenda Item 19-3758)
The Board approved two Professional Services contract extensions with consultants to the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. Questions were raised concerning why these sole source contracts were being renewed. A scope of work was requested for these contracts. (Agenda Items 19-3413 and 19-3458)
The Complete Count Census Commission was approved to educate the community about the need for participation in the upcoming Census. (Agenda Item 19-3176) Members of the Commission were also appointed..
An ordinance urging the Illinois Congressional Delegation to support HR96, Veteran’s Dental Care, was referred to the Veterans Committee.

Other Items of Interest

The meeting began with 16 public speakers - several speaking in favor of the Good Faith Effort Transparency Reporting ordinance and several others speaking in favor of the ordinance supporting the Reproductive Health Act.
Assessor Kaegi presented the Practices and Procedures Audit of the Cook County Assessor’s Office - a report from the audit done on his office by the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO). The main findings in the report for modernizing the office were summarized by representatives from the audit group and presented in four critical areas.

Staffing and staff development - the office has about 1/4 of the staff necessary to carry out the work necessary.
Adapt Technology - with technology integrated into the GIS info they can increase the rate of assessments and can use technology to offset their personnel shortage.
Data Quality - at present data quality is poor but with more staff and upgraded technology data should improve.
Evaluation Methods - can improve methods with improved data quality that will demystify their assessment process.

The report was received and filed and can be found HERE at the Cook County Assessors Website.
Observer - Cynthia Schilsky Meeting Length: 2 and 1/2 hours

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Cook County Board Votes to Request Hearing on Shakman Compliance

3/24/2019

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Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting - March 21, 2019

NOTABLE RESOLUTIONS PASSED:

There was a resolution passed to secure a memorial to document the location of the 1924 lynching of William Bell. This will be done in partnership with the DuSable Museum and the University of Illinois (Chicago). Counties throughout the nation are cooperating with the Equal Justice Initiative/Memorial Museum in Montgomery, Alabama to shed light on this part of American History.
A unanimous vote was cast requesting a hearing of the Litigation Subcommittee to discuss the status of Shakman compliance in the office of the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Cook County Recorder of Deeds and the Cook County Assessor. Violations have cost the county tax payers millions of dollars.
There was a resolution to urge the Illinois General Assembly to amend the property tax code regarding the senior citizen homestead exemption. Currently each senior must request this annually, which the commissioners deemed to be unnecessary.

COMMITTEE ITEMS REQUIRING BOARD ACTION:

The commissioners concurred with a proposed resolution from the Human Relations Committee urging the U.S. Congress to provide emergency legislation to prevent the deportation of recipients of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and TPS (temporary protected status).
Commissioners concurred with Finance Committee’s proposed amendment to the Predictable Recording Fee Ordinance.
Commissioners concurred to Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee’s resolution requesting a hearing to discuss the status of the Cook County Sheriff’s Prescription Drug Take Back Program.

With the exception of a few minor questions to clarify, there was no discussion of items, and the board moved quickly through the agenda. Even with an extensive public comment period to support the DACA resolution and to oppose a power plant in Glenwood, Illinois, the meeting adjourned at 12:20 pm.

Observer - Georgia Gebhardt Meeting Length: 2 hours

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Much Still to Be Done before Shakman Requirements Will be Met by Three Cook County Offices

Cook County Board Approves Homeland Security Department Name Change

Cook County Board Begins Budget Hearings on Proposed 2020 $6.18 Billion Budget

Several Contracts Questioned by Commissioners at Cook County Board Meeting Especially for Clerk Of Court Brown

Cook County Board Makes Changes to Consent Calendar Meetings

Cook County Board Votes to Request Hearing on Shakman Compliance

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