Special Cook County Board and Finance Committee Meetings
November 21, 2024

Following the Finance Committee meeting at which the Commissioners recommended 21 amendments, the Board passed the 2025 Budget.  The amendments added $53 Million to the budget originally proposed by the President in October.  The resulting total is $9.94 Billion.  Following are key amendments:

• Adds $11.58 M to the budgeted revenues to reflect the increase in the amount of TIF funds expected to be received from Chicago due its declaration of excess funds.  Then that amount was allocated to a modular pilot program ($3 M) and a downpayment assistance program ($8.6 M) for use within Chicago.  (Amend. #11 and 12)
• Reallocates $6.34 Million from the Sheriff’s budget pertaining to Electronic Monitoring (EM) to the Chief Judge’s budget (specifically, Adult Probation) in anticipation that EM that is currently done by the Sheriff will be assumed by the Chief Judge.  The offices of the two officials are in discussions about this, along with the President’s Office and the Justice Advisory Council, as reported in prior observer reports on the 2025 proposed budget.  It was confirmed that no final decision or timetable or agreed upon milestones for achieving such a transfer have been reached.  Comm. Gainer again raised the need for such milestones and for there to be regular updates to the Board.   (Amend. #15)
• Assigns $15 M from the unassigned fund balance for FY2023 to the Homeowners Relief Fund.  This Special Purpose Fund was recently created to help homeowners to pay property taxes.  (Amend. #19 and 20)
• Reallocates money within the Cook County Health budget to create a $2 M grants disbursement fund to provide wraparound services for reproductive health, including transportation, lodging and childcare.  Comm. Degnen spoke on the importance of this in light of other states which have passed laws which dramatically impact what reproductive health services can be provided to women. (Amend. #16)
• Adds 19 FTEs (Full Time Equivalents) to the Sheriff’s budget to provide 911 service for Des Plaines, Worth, and the Office of the Chief Judge.  The costs will be fully reimbursed by those receiving the services so there is no budget impact.  (Amend. #8)
• Increases each Commissioner’s total budget by $10,000 to provide a cost-of-living adjustment.  (Amend. #9)
• Adds 2 positions to the Dept. of Environment and Sustainability to facilitate implementation of environmental justice policy. (Amend. #10)
• Reallocates $150,000 from the capital budget to do a feasibility study and market analysis identifying the future use for the former Logan Square Health Clinic. (Amend. #13)

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Cook County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee
2025 Budget Hearings 
October 30, 2024, morning

Cook County Health – Dr. Erik Micaitis, CEO
    2025 Proposed Budget:  $5.247 Billion
    2025 Proposed FTEs:      7,809

The Cook County Health System (CCH) provides patient care to all residents and immigrants regardless of ability to pay.  Locations include Stroger and Provident Hospitals, the new Bronzeville family health center, an HIV-AIDS clinic, and 12 community health centers throughout the county.  CCH also provides health care at the Cermak Jail, the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, and through its Managed Care Insurance Plan known as CountyCare.  CCH reported that over 600,000 patients walked through its doors this last year. The following shows the totals for the Health Enterprise Fund only (exclusive of Special Purpose Funds and Grants)
​                                     
                              2025 Proposed Budget        Proposed FTEs:
   Public Health:                      $24 M                       125
   Managed Care:                $3.189  B                       435
   CCH [all other]                $1.933  B                       6,766
   CCH   TOTAL                   $5.146  B                       7,326

Highlights from the Presentation and Commissioner Questions

• Pam Cassara, Chief Financial Officer, noted that the budget and priorities for the budget is based on the 7 pillars set forth in the 2023-25 Strategic Plan:  (1) Patient safety, clinical excellence, and quality; (2) Health equity, community health and integration; (3) patient experience; (4) growth, innovation and transformation; (5) Optimization, systemization, and performance improvement;(6) Workforce talent and teams; and (7) Fiscal resilience.  
• As Commissioner Lowry said in his closing remarks, the two items most emphasized by Commissioners were the reduction of contracted (agency) help and keeping the Cook County Board apprised of expanded services.  
• The Provident replacement question came up several times, but with Cook County doing a review in 2025 of all properties, there are no plans for 2025 other than changes already anticipated such as the move of family, maternal, and pediatrics healthcare to the near-by Bronzeville facility, the increase in surgical cases, and more emphasis on cardiology.
• Commissioners repeatedly questioned by line item the increase or decrease in headcount.  The most common reason given was the re-allocation or centralization of headcount (for example, behavioral health employees).  There is no increase in the total headcount of 7,326 from 2024.
• For Contract hiring, monthly reports have been initiated as both the Commissioners and the CCH Human Resources Dept. have made the reduction of contract hires a top priority.  There are 581 vacancies for nurses out of a total of 1835 positions.  Maintenance personnel are also difficult to find.  Commissioner Degnan noted that operations headcount was used for other hires.  She expressed concern over neglecting equipment, infrastructure systems, etc.
• Job fairs have been a big success with a 71% offer acceptance rate.  And the pilot that allows to immediately offer a position at fairs will be continued. More outreach to Macomb Community College has also begun for nursing graduates.
• There are 113 bi-lingual positions across the system in all types of positions.
• A Doula RFP to advise, inform, and offer emotional and physical comfort to a pregnant person before, during, and after the birth of their child. is in the works this month, and the rollout will begin in 2025.  Commissioner Miller is very interested in this expanded service.
• The Public Health Department noted that ARPA funds are being used to hire/place Behavioral Health specialists at every CCH site.  It is also investing ARPA funds into community organizations to provide behavioral health services to CCH patients.
• Housing for the homeless is an important issue for Commissioner Quezada.  He noted that the homeless population has increased 12% nationally and asked for data on how many homeless individuals come thru the system.  CCH will get back to him on the request.
• Dental care was another issue for several Commissioners. The challenge in filling positions at each of the 12 health centers is staffing:  I dentist, 2 assistants, 2 hygienists and 2 registration clerks are needed at each site.  The plan is to have 3 sites with dental services by the end of 2024, and 3-4 more sites with services by the end of the 2025 summer.
• Clinical trials are being brought in-house.  The Hektone contract will end in March of 2025 and research work will increase.  CCH will be adding investigators and researchers.  When asked if this move would impact Grantors continuation of grants, Dr. Mikaitis said that four funders have already agreed to continue, and CCH expects the remaining to continue when their current grants expire in 2025.
• When asked what the System is doing to attract more patients to in-house services, staff noted that the jail population is being encouraged to continue with CCH after release; a new marketing plan is encouraging CountyCare Insurance customers to use Stroger, Provident, etc.; and the influx of immigrants also is a potential pool.

Meeting Length:  Over 4 hours in total

​Observer:  Diane Edmundson

Cook County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee
2025 Proposed Budget Hearings
October 31, 2024 

Cook County Public Defender – Sharone R. Mitchell, Jr.
    Proposed 2025 Budget:  $109,801,418
    2025 Proposed FTEs:          823

Presentation by Sharonne Mitchell
Training (he is most proud of):          

• In 2009 training was ½ day
• 2024 - training is one month and has been modernized 
• Includes trial/court training and visiting the jail
• Training for investigators

Technology:

• Aging laptop change out from 6 years to 4 years
• Moving all discovery to digital which allows people to access files

Personnel:

• Rand workload study is ongoing 
• Need 149 more staff based on national standards
• Need to decrease current workloads

Questions:

• Daley:    # of vacancies ? PD – 149 includes attorneys and support staff 
• Stamps: Can AI support the department?  PD  - perhaps research. It can be a tool in the toolbox. Concern about ethics and using it a responsible way.  May partner with other groups doing this work 
• Trevor: Question about staff loss due to ARPA funds going away. PD - Making adjustments
• Trevor: Question about lack of space. PD - Now have enough money to serve. Space/building improvements in Maywood building
• Britton: Question/comments about technology and need to look long term regarding cloud storage 
• Anaya: Question regarding time to hire. PD -  currently improving. Have communicated with HR. Working with law schools for an attorney pipeline.  Bigger problem with specialities such as interpreters.  Working on retention. Costs more to train so they need to retain. 
• Anaya: Question regarding the immigration division. PD - will maintain at current strength 
• Degnen: Question/comments on Juvenile Criminal Justice and a team working on reimagining with Chapin Hall leadership.  Received a Dept of Justice grant and mentioned the importance of the Grant Management post.
• Aguilar: Question/comments regarding vacancies and retentions. PD - increasing training and morale
• Quezada: Comments about the importance of the immigration division.
• Gainer: Comment on length of hiring
• Lowry: Positive comment on engagement with law schools to recruit lawyers 

Cook County State’s Attorney – Kimberly Foxx
    2025 Proposed Budget:  $221,319,618
    2025 Proposed FTEs:           1,452.0

State’s Attorney Fox spent about 20 minutes talking about the changes and outcomes of her leadership. Big thank you to the commissioners.  Goal was to have a fair and just criminal justice system evidenced by:

• Abolishing cash bail
• Legalizing marijuana
• Importance of dashboard data on the SA website (many commissioners thanked her for this)
• Hundreds of wrongful convictions overturned

With the SA change coming up, SA Fox is working on a smooth transition.

Questions regarding staff and caseloads – Answer:

• Need more administration staff - need to restructure staff 
• 4 more paralegals
• 4 techs
• 1 investigator 

SA Fox believes the wrongful conviction department, diversion and expungement must continue.
SA Fox talked about the importance of the grant manager in her office and that many grants are renewable. She talked about the needs regarding gender-based violence and partnering with universities.

• Currently, the office handles 30,000 to 35,000 new felonies a year, but twice that amount for misdemeanors.  SA Foxx said that the Office does a review and determines when to charge a felony.  The police officers, however, can file misdemeanor charges themselves.  SA Foxx said that the issue of the large number of misdemeanors needs to be tackled in the future.
• Comm. Degnen said she would like to see more cases referred to the alternative justice courts and programs and asked whether the criteria should be reviewed to allow that.  SA Foxx said that there is a gun diversion program out of the Bridgeport Courthouse for those who have been charged with unlawful possession, but who have not used a gun in the commission of another crime – for example, having a gun without a permit.  The issue of more diversions is related to what the public will tolerate.  
• There are currently 17 paralegals and 4 more will be hired.  This position did not exist in the office 8 years ago.  SA Foxx said there is a need for more, along with more administrative support positions, to relieve the attorneys who have been doing far too much administrative work.
• There is a possibility that the Assistant State’s Attorneys in the office may be unionizing, so some additional money was budgeted for outside legal services to advise on labor matters.
• In response to a question from Comm. Kevin Morrison, the reduction in the number of attorneys listed for felony cases is due to those positions now being covered by grants, so there is no actual reduction.  Comm. Morrison also commented on the number of brand new Asst. State’s Attorneys assigned to the Domestic Violence Court.  SA Foxx explained that new Asst. State’s Attorneys are assigned where they are needed, but In all situations, the supervisory attorneys are very experienced and knowledgeable about applicable law.  Further, in the case of the Domestic Violence Court, the new attorneys there had previously been interns in that area.

Observer:  Laura Davis

The Finance Committee meetings to review the Executive Budget proposed by the President ended on the afternoon of October 31 with one last meeting.  Commissioners have until 12 noon on November 7 to propose amendments to the budget, which will be reviewed by the Budget Department.  Any amendments presented to the Committee for consideration must maintain a balanced budget.  It is expected that the full Board will vote on the 2025 budget, as it may be amended, on November 21.  The 2025 fiscal year begins on December 1, 2024.

Secretary of the Board of the Cook County Commissioners:  Lynne Turner
    2025 Proposed Budget:  $2,341,193
    2025 Proposed FTEs:         13

This office provides legislative support and related information so items can be presented for consideration and so the legislative process will be efficient, effective, open, and transparent.  The office also maintains the County Archives and Records Office.

• Secretary Turner noted that at last year’s budget meeting, the department had 5 of the 13 positions vacant; for the mid-year budget meeting this summer, there were 4 vacancies; but as of now, there are only 2:  the Manager of Archives and the Legal Counsel.  The Secretary expects to start scheduling interviews for those positions shortly.
• The Legal Counsel position was approved as an amendment to last year’s budget.  Comm. Degnen inquired why there is still a vacancy.  The Secretary said the position was just posted this summer and initially there was not much interest.  The Secretary will be reviewing the 3 current applications.
• In response to a concern about the number of “new agendas” being posted during Board meetings, Secretary Turner suggested there be a discussion with the Board about setting a hard deadline for submission of new items.  
• There were many tributes for the Secretary and her employees from the Commissioners.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims​

Cook County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee
2025 Budget Hearings 
October 30, 2024

Cook County Assessor: Fritz Kaegi
           2025 Proposed Budget: $40,320,626
           2025 Proposed FTEs:  306
 This office assesses the value of all residential and commercial properties in Cook County and administers Appeals and Certificates of Error in accordance with the Illinois Constitution.

Highlights of 2024 presented to the Board include: 

• In FY  2024 the City of Chicago was reassessed which includes 52% of the total PINs in Cook County
• Redesigned annual Reassessment Notice mailed to homeowners using plain language techniques and graphics to explain what the notice means. New hires in civic engagement and Spanish speaking liaison augment outreach to property owners.
• All assessments and appeals completed on schedule ensuring that second installment tax bills were issued in a timely manner to homeowners.

Proposed 2025 budget 

• The increase over 2024 is $3,832,040.  Much of this ($2,913,215) is for 10 additional FTEs in valuations, field inspections and permits supporting the 2025 North Triennial Reassessment in northern Cook County.
• Commissioner Trevor raised concerns about the quality of data used by the Assessor and whether it was equitable and fair.  Kaegi responded that enhanced staffing and technology used for modeling data and satellite mapping of properties by neighborhoods was developed for Cook County so that comparable parcels were used for assessments.  Median sales ratio to assessed value was 97% for 2024 (target 95%-105%)
• Commissioners Anaya and Britton questioned whether the property tax appeals process was inequitable because of the complexity, requirement for navigating the Assessor’s website and language barriers.  Kaegi responded that multilingual video presentations on filing an appeal and interpreting their property tax bill are on the website.  His department is working on better software for accessing assessment & reassessment information online for the public. 
• Kaegi said he was trying to implement a “circuit breaker” limiting the % increase of assessment for subsequent assessment periods which some other States/Counties have.

Cook County Clerk:  Cedric Giles
           2025 Proposed Budget: $73,440,806
           2025 Proposed FTE:  349

This office provides services for purchase and maintenance of vital records, recording of land records, collection of delinquent taxes, governing elections and recording County Board proceedings.

Highlights of 2024 presented to the Board include:

• The March 2024 Presidential Primary Election was a success and Early Voting in person and by mail  and preparation for the November 5, 2024 Presidential Election are being executed smoothly.
• Implementation of an upgraded electronic poll book system for checking in voters at polling places and early voting centers.  Computer software upgrades allow Voter signature update if it has changed since original voter registration and is available in real time at all polling sites.
• Online access to Cook County land maps was made available
• Pilot program in partnership with Palatine Township and Vital Records offers online and in-person ordering and issue of Vital Records at local Townships (implementation 2025) (birth, death, marriage certificates)

Proposed 2025 budget

• Total budget decrease $3,331,669 from 2024 represents lower resources required in non-federal election years.  FTEs remain unchanged from 2024
• 346,000 suburban Cook County residents have already voted early/mail in ballot
• Commissioner Kevin Morrison asked how Early Voting dates were determined. Clerk Giles and Deputy Clerk of Elections explained that it was determined by the functional status of the voting equipment to ensure that it was reliable for voting before setting firm dates for the public.
• Commissioner Anaya asked how virtual marriage licenses (available in Cook County) verified the identities of the parties.  Clerk Giles said a virtual video interview meeting with Clerk’s staff and the involved parties was required for verification.

Clerk of the Circuit Court: Honorable Iris Martinez
            2025 Proposed Budget: $140,282,020
            2025 Proposed FTEs:  1,422

This office’s primary function is to attend court sessions and maintain all records of the court.  It serves as the administrative arm of the Court and is responsible for all financial duties relating to the court system which includes collecting fines, restitution, child support and fees as well as disbursing funds to appropriate designated entities. 

Highlights of 2024 presented to the Board include:

• Domestic Violence Center launched, providing a safe place for families experiencing domestic violence and connecting with advocates.  Commissioner Anaya and Daley commended these activities
• All operational areas of Clerk of Circuit Court’s Office reengineered and consolidated with cross-training of staff improving customer service

Proposed 2025 budget:

• Increase over 2024 budget is $4,754,706 attributable to several factors including computer and data processing supplies $1,411,352: maintenance & subscription services: $2,475,119 and planned overtime compensation $1,500,000.  Clerk Martinez said this overtime was required due to retirements and turnover vacancies which were covered by the remaining employees.
• FTEs decreased by 6.
• Circuit Court filed a projected 750,000 cases in 2024 vs 578,092 actual cases in 2023
• Commissioner Daley asked for clarification on the newly introduced “continuance code”.  Judges are supposed to enter this code on cases that are delayed.  The clerk of Circuit Court and staff reported that only 16% of judges are entering the code correctly to be entered in the tabulation.

Office of the Independent Inspector General (OIG):  Tirrell Paxton
        2025 Proposed Budget:  $2,812,173
        2025 Proposed FTEs:   20

This office is to detect and deter corruption, fraud, waste, mismanagement, unlawful political discrimination and other misconduct in the operation of Cook County Government, the Forest Preserves of Cook County and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.

Highlights of 2024 presented to the Board include:

• Projected 850 new complaints.  91-95% of the Independent Inspector General’s recommendations for remedial action over the last two years have been adopted by the agencies to which they were made
• Survey of 7 Inspector General’s offices in Chicago area revealed that Cook County OIG ranked 2nd to lowest in funding as a % of the total budget for the entity.
• OIG Intergovernmental Agreement with the MWRD which is very advantageous for MWRD is being reconsidered for modification or non-renewal by OIG.

Proposed 2025 Budget:

• Increase over 2024 is $355,837 primarily for employee salary and benefits to attract and retain highly qualified staff and fill 5 existing vacancies.  An additional one FTE (administrative assistant) is requested.
• Commissioner Anaya asked how long each case is worked on?  Inspector General said months  to one year.

Observer:  Susan Kern, MD

Cook County Board of Commissioners - Finance Committee
2025 Proposed Budget Review Meetings - Day #2
Oct 29, 2024  

Cook County Treasurer  -  Maria Pappas
       2025 Propose Budget      $17,708,355
       2025 Proposed FTE’s        78

• The staff is currently down to 66 but the Treasurer is initiating an AI group and plans to hire people for that unit.
• The purpose of the AI group will be to analyze the data available in the systems to provide useful information to Commissioners, other elected officials, and residents.
• The Treasurer’s office already provides detailed reports to the Commissioners on residences in their district, including if exemptions have been taken, and appeals. She had distributed the report to all the Commissioners.    
• The Treasurer’s website is used extensively by residents. It has multiple languages.  There were 6 million visits in 2024.  She offered to have a class for the Commissioners’ staff on how to use the website so they can help their constituents.
• The office works with radio programs, community groups, and churches to reach out to the public and explain exemptions and help residents claim overpayments.
• The Treasurer is very critical of the Tyler-led computer system for the property tax function and the staff that the company is providing to the County.   She Is very concerned that once the system is finally in operation, the tax bills will be incorrect.
• Most of the discussion of the Commissioners was about the failure of the Tyler system to meet deadlines, cost overruns, and the capability of the staff they provide to the County.   Apparently, the original contract gives the County little leverage over the company and it limits the County’s ability to sue Tyler.
• Commissioner Degnan asked about “zombie” properties that don’t pay any tax at all.  The Treasurers’ office is doing a study on those properties as well as TIFs and will give a report to the Commissioners.
• Commissioner Britton commented on the number of appeals in his district and reflected on the inequity for residents who don’t have the resources to appeal.
• The Treasurer presented a detailed power point presentation that can be viewed in the “Meeting Details” section for the Legistar entry for this meeting: Treasurer Meeting

Cook County Sheriff    - Tom Dart
         2025 Propose Budget      $755,404,421
         2025 Proposed FTE’s        5,702

• Commissioner Daley started the meeting by addressing the possibility that electronic monitoring (EM) would be transferred from the Sheriff’s office to the Chief Judge.   The meetings of the two offices plus the President’s office and Justice Adviosry Council just started a couple months ago and there have been no definite decisions. The Commissioners would be part of the decision. A lot of the discussion between Sheriff Dart and the Commissioners during this budget meeting still dealt with it.
• Sheriff Dart stated that his office got responsibility for EM when there was a consent decree to reduce the population of the jail. Then low- level crime and non-violent offenders were put in the program.  Over-crowding at the jail is no longer the reason for EM; instead, judges are the ones who determine who should be placed on EM among those awaiting trial. The Sheriff said that the process has become more difficult because those accused of violent crimes are now in the program.  Currently 100 are accused of murder. The Safe-T Act required that all participants be given two periods of movement per week outside of the home. 
• Commissioner Gainer stated that the transparent reporting the Sheriff does on the program will need to continue if it is moved to the Chief Judge.   The Sheriff’s report is online.
• Commissioner Aguilar said that in some cases the Sheriff deputies have been able to prevent a problem with someone on EM because of the deputy’s experience.   If it is under the Judge, a warrant will have to be issued after the problem occurs.
• There is a significant problem with staffing in the Sheriff’s office.  30% of new employees leave in the first year, 75 % leave in 5 years. The Sheriff does not anticipate any layoffs if the EM is moved.   He will use those people to fill openings.   All employees start in Corrections and then can move to other divisions. Workers in EM get specialty payments for the more technical work. 
• Some of the Commissioners questioned the high amount of overtime. Part of the problem with staffing is that the union agreement allows the worker to bid on a specific division or building. So, the administration can’t move someone from one building to another building if there are absences.   That results in the overtime.
• Sheriff Dart pointed out that there is an increase in his budget for technology.   They are looking at better systems to help monitor inmates.
• Commissioner Morrison said that another issue with the openings is that the suburban and City police are asking for more back up.
• Commissioner Degnen asked about reports that there are not enough deputies in the courtrooms.   Sheriff Dart responded that some judges wanted deputies in a courtroom even when there are no proceedings.   There used to be two deputies assigned to each courtroom no matter what the activity.   Now the deputies are assigned as needed.     If there is a highly visible trial, more than one deputy may be assigned.
• Commissioner Lowry discussed all the services the Sheriff offers to inmates as well as people leaving the jail—drug and mental health counseling, job search, and even housing.

Observer:  Kathi Graffam


Office of the Chief Judge:  Judge Tim Evans

    2025 Proposed Budget:  $361,458,924
    2025 Proposed FTEs:  3,089.5
This Office in in charge of Cook County Judges, Court System, and the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC).
Highlights of Judge Evans’ presentation:

• successes this past year include opening Sauk Village Restorative Justice Court and in the process of expanding to 3 more locations—Cicero, Hazelcrest, and NW Suburbs.
• has hired 175 people mostly through job fairs
• is in the process of “reimagining” the youth detention center (JTDC); this partly involves moving the female detainees to Soros Center and being more aware of gay and transgender detainees and their needs.
• after a pilot program showed a need, is moving forward with a 24/7 domestic violence court to be open for orders of protection at any hour. Staffing and budget needs to be determined.
• zoom courts as a hybrid format are here to stay and each of 400 judges has a Zoom license to hold these hearings by Zoom.  Interpreters are needed and sometimes don’t show up as per union allowance (last minute call-in)
• Judge Evans is against taking over the entire Electronic Monitoring (EM) system at the county.  He wants the Sheriff to continue his part of EM as he says the 2 systems are completely different and his staff is not able to take this on. The Sheriff wants out of the EM programs, has issues with the SAFE-T Act regarding EM and is not listed as an agency charged with monitoring EM. (See Sheriff presentation from earlier in the day)

The main topics of discussion were EM and the JTDC—hours of questions, clarifications, explanation of plans and new directions.

• Comm. Gainer stressed that a plan needs to be developed regarding which office(s) take over EM, or if it stays split between the Sheriff and Judge offices.  The Justice Advisory Council (JAC) should be involved with this decision.  The Sheriff has legitimate concerns, the SAFE-T Act needs revision to deal with this problem (Evans), there is currently no one in charge of this undertaking.  Gainer requested monthly updates on EM consolidation or other plans regarding this issue.
• the JTDC is being “reimagined.”  Average length of stay for detainees is 30 days; many leave after 72 hours.  There has been about a 10% increase in detainees in all areas:  murder, carjacking, unlawful use of weapon, attempted murder, etc.  JTDC director Dixon’s staff and others have been looking into “Best Practices” regarding juvenile defendants and plans to incorporate these practices within the JTDC in the future.  The steering group for this meets frequently but there are issues with data collection and accuracy (IT issues) and required quarterly reports on the JTDC are lacking.
• Comm. Stamps concerned with detainees finishing education while held (GED).
• Comm. Degnan very concerned with overtime and Family Medical Leave Auth. (FMLA) abuses at the JTDC.

Cook County Land Bank:  Director Jessica Caffrey

    2025 Proposed Budget:  $4,115,698
    2025 Proposed FTEs:  19

Highlights of Presentation:

• this department has been in effect 11 years.  Created as a solution to foreclosures.  In 2010 most vacant properties were due to foreclosures during the financial crisis; now it is the opposite—most vacant properties are due to unpaid property taxes.  
• Goal is to acquire vacant, delinquent-on-taxes property to stabilize neighborhoods.  The selected properties are sold to developers—both large and small—to rehab and then sell to owners (80%) or landlords for renters.  Over the years, 2000 properties have been returned to the tax rolls and a large economic impact occurs for every investment ($10 impact for $1 invested).
• Land Bank is concentrating in disinvested areas and works with the Treasurer to acquire scavenger sale-type properties.  These 2 entities are working together on a new process that will be more efficient.  Comm. Gainer (an early advocate of this department) is pleased with the Director and the results.

Capital Budget: Chief Financial Officer Tonya Anthony, Transportation & Highways Director Jennifer Killen, Chief Information Officer Tom Lynch, & Assets Bureau Chief Elizabeth Granato
        2025 Proposed Budget: $653.4 million
​             $250 million for Capital Improvement Program for County facilities
             $222.9 million for Transportation & Highways Program for County-maintained roads,               bridges and highways
            $180.5 million for Capital Equipment Program for County Depts.

This Office under the President manages projects, facilities, transportation and durable items that should last over 5 years.  The budget is roughly 

• 20% capital projects (major renovations at Stroger Hospital; renewables and solar, reducing energy use; completely renovating the county offices at 69 W Washington St.).  
• 38% is transportation projects such as preservation, modernization and expansion of roads, sidewalks, paths, etc.  
• Another 38% of budget is  capital improvements such as the renovation of the Board Room. 

Highlights of the Presentation:

• 5 EV charging stations have been installed with a goal of 35 EV stations, some for county vehicle use only.
• the County has an upgraded AA bond rating this year, which reduces costs of financing capital projects.
• there will be WI-FI upgrades and ADA enhancements especially in the courts, and Assessors office.
• Comm. Lowry asked about the status of Provident during the Capital Budget:  during 2025, there is going to be an assessment of all the CCH properties, including Provident.  So nothing specific planned for Provident this year.
• The new Board Room on the 5th floor likely will not be ready until sometime in March, and then it could take 4 to 8 weeks for testing out all the equipment.  So that would seem that May might be the first time it is used.  There will be 138 seats for the public + 30 seat for staff + 12 seats on the dais. All ADA compliant.

Observer:  Karin Hribar

Finance Committee of the Cook County Board
2025 Proposed Budget Review Meetings
​October 28, 2024 - Part #1

Bureau of Finance - Tanya Anthony - CFO, Kanoko Ishida Musselwhite - Budget Director, Dean Constantinou - Deputy CFO
    2025 Proposed Budget for the Bureau 
        General Funds                     $ 37,529,080
        Special Purpose Funds     $499,036,034
        Restricted  Funds                $       100,000
        Total                                        $536,665,114
    2025 Proposed FTEs - 306

Overview of the Proposed Executive Budget 

• County is fiscally strong, Reserves will be maintained, Credit Ratings are good
• $9.9B budget proposed - an increase of 6.8% from last year with $9.24 in the Operating Budget
• Proposed 23,308 FTEs -  Decrease of 56 FTEs - no layoffs - elimination of empty positions
• The budget is now balanced with an increase in projected revenues of $182M and a decrease in expenses of $145M from the proposed preliminary budget
• General Fund is $2.19B
• Health Enterprise Fund (HEF) is 53% of the budget at $5.15B - an increase of 20.9% from last year - CountyCare provides 63% of the revenue for the HEF and enrollment in CountyCare is now fairly stable - 73% of expenses of HEF are contractual costs
• Special Purpose Funds - there are now 40 funds - new ones established within last year are Opioid Remediation Fund - Infrastructure and Equipment Fund - includes funds for installation of solar panels on county buildings  - Disaster Response and Emergency Fund - added an additional $50M to the $50M remaining for a total of $100M in fund
• Equity Fund - $40M for the 3rd installment to the fund
• Long Term fiscal Planning - expect Revenues to increase by 2.3% and expenses to grow by 2.7% so projecting deficits by 2027 - so Fund Balance provides insurance as well as looking for new sources of revenue
• Pension Fund allocation is $573M as County continues to pay down their liabilities over 30 years - until 2047
• ARPA Updates - County Received $1B that needs to be obligated by the end of the year - 80% dedicated to Community Programs (73 programs funded) and 20% for Operating Expenses - Of the Community Programs 84% is obligated and 42% has been expended - for Operating Costs 84% obligated and 78% expended - Now in the process of obligating remaining funds and determining which programs will be continued beyond use of ARPA funding

Questions/Comments from Commissioners - there were many - key topics raised

• Will any debt be refinanced? - largely locked in for this year but will reevaluate over next few quarters in particular with new issuance next August
• Solar Panels - Will they generate revenue for the County? $15M investment to install with a life span of 20 years expected to generate savings and anticipate that credits from the Federal Government will cover at least 50% of installation cost
• Revenue Sources - How does a health fund surplus relate to the overall budget? Are the Special Purpose Funds adequately funded? The process for identifying new revenue sources starts with the Revenue Forecasting Group then the Executive Committee and then to the board. If commissioners have suggestions they should submit them to the Finance Bureau to ensure they are allowable.
• Overtime - The projections have overall been accurate. Is there a better way to reflect short staffing than amount of overtime paid? Public Safety has the most OT with the Sheriff paying about $65M. OT is included in the budgets for the departments. 
• Investments should be moved away from those in fossil fuels.
• Asked if all of ARPA funds will be obligated by the end of the year and the answer was yes. 
• Grants Management - large increase in the amount of grant funds coming into the County. By the end of next year there will be 10-12 staff dedicated to managing grants throughout the County offices.
• Requested more transparency in the collection of delinquent taxes and in the TIF funds received from the City of Chicago. 
• Reserve Funds - Policy is that the fund is based on maintaining the amount to cover between 2 months (floor) and 3 months (ceiling) of expenses

Presentation and Questions lasted 1 hour and 40 minutes. 

Offices Under the President - Presentation by Lanetta Haynes Turner, Chief of Staff for Pres. Preckwinkel and Bureau/Department Heads available to answer questions
Includes following: Bureau of Asset Management, Bureau of Human Resources, Bureau of Economic Development, Bureau of Administration, Bureau of Technology, Bureau of Finance, Department of Human Rights, Department of Administrative Hearings, Auditor, Offices of the President, Justice Advisory Council

    2025 Proposed Budget (General Funds Only) -  $221M
    2025 Proposed FTEs - 1619

Overview: 

• Proposed budget of $221M in the General Fund across all offices under the President. An increase of $9.9M from last year - or 5%. 
• Personnel is 84% of the budget. Proposed FTEs is 1619 an increase of 8 FTEs. There are 294 vacancies or 18% at the present time but that is a decrease from a 24% vacancy rate at the start of the year. HR continues to make efforts to increase hiring.
• Initiatives and Projects highlighted that are part of the proposed budget:
  • AI - a $4M pilot project to see how AI can be used in the County
  • The Office of Contract Compliance and the Procurement Office are consolidating with the expectation that this will make for a better and faster process.
  • A Grants Office is being formed that is part of the grants infrastructure optimization and result in better oversight of grants. 
  • As part of investment in employees money is allocated to cover the cost of copays for mental health counseling for all employees. 
  • 211 Services are being enhanced in collaboration with the City of Chicago and the United Way. 
  • Environmental Sustainability Initiatives that will move the County towards their goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030.
  • Performance Management Strategy that will align departments with the overall County goals and enhance the use of Data for a wholistic approach across the County.

Commissioner Questions/Responses: 

• Several focused on concerns with job vacancies throughout the County and how HR intends to fill the positions. Also questions on the use of contractual services and how they are used. Is there a way of determining if use of contract employees would be more cost effective than continued efforts to fill vacant positions - and how this relates to overtime costs. 
• Grant oversight was another area of concern. Since the amount of grant funding is considerably increased there is concern about oversight and will this be what the new Grants Office will be doing. The JAC was asked if they have adequate staff to oversee the nearly 200 grants they are administering. They have 9 people doing compliance. 
• The Bureau of Human Resources is reorganizing and moving 2 Departments into the Bureau with a reduction of 6 FTEs. 
• Audit Office has the highest vacancy rate in the County with a 62% of positions vacant. 2 positions that were established to monitor ARPA funds were never able to be filled and have been eliminated. At the present time there are 4 Field auditors with one dedicated to the Forest Preserve District. 
• Several questions about 211 system - how is outreach to the County being done so that constituents are aware of what the system is about? Are services really available if someone calls that number?
• Questions about the development of guidelines for the use of AI. Who is doing this and will the Federal Guidelines be utilized?
• Several questions about the process for determining the continuation of ARPA projects. What is the timeline for making the determination and when in the process will the Commissioners get their say?
• Consolidation of the Electronic Monitoring Programs of the Sheriff and the Chief Judge was raised. It was indicated that the JAC has been charged with facilitating the efforts to consolidate the 2 programs.
• Availability of a data base of those properties that receive tax incentives was raised but apparently there is none and it was noted that followup on those that are granted is generally left to the municipalities that submit the requests. 
• Most questions during this session dealt with the different programs run by the Bureaus and Departments under the President - but most questions did not deal with the actual budget numbers.

Presentation and Questions lasted 3 hours. 

Observer - Cynthia Schilsky

October 28, 2024 (Part #2)
​Board of Review, Veterans Assistance Commission, and Office of the Public Administrator

Board of Review (BoR):  Commissioners Samantha Steele (chair), George As. Cardenas, and Larry R. Rogers. Jr.
     2025 Proposed Budget:  $21,295,644
    2025 Proposed FTEs:    167

This office considers appeals of property tax assessments determined by the Assessor.  The office also is responsible for defending final assessments appealed to the Illinois Property Tax Appeals Board (PTAB)

Highlights of 2024 presented by the Board include

• 2nd installment property tax bills going out on time for first time in several years (thanking the staff which made this happen)
• Completion of the interface between the BoR computer system and that of the Assessor (which was also a big part of getting the tax bills out on time)
• Adding Taleo system (used by most of the rest of the County) for use in hiring.
• For the 2023 property taxes paid in 2024, there were 246,774 appeals of assessments to the BoR, with 43.9% being granted a lower assessment

Proposed 2025 budget

• The increase over 2024 is $1,083,270.  Comm. Rogers said that most of this due to cost-of-living increases for employees, but also includes an additional $250.000 for overtime for a proposed total of $1,250,000
• BoR presented a chart showing the differences in overtime among the 3 Commissioners’ staffs, with District 1 (Comm. Cardenas) having over $450,000 thus far for 2024, District 2 (Comm. Steele) having about $350,000, and District 3 (Comm. Rogers) having somewhat less than $200,000.  Comm. Cardenas said that his staff took the first pass at reviewing appeals, which is why he had the largest overtime;  Comm. Rogers said that he had the most experienced staff which likely resulted in less overtime.
• Comm. Gainer asked whether there is any thought to using some “contract services” (such as retired BoR employees) during some periods to reduce the overtime, stressing that may be better than risking losing employees who burn out or otherwise don’t want the overtime.
• Comm. Gainer also asked whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) might be useful, suggesting that the BoR consider hiring a consultant to see how AI could be used and how some of the work could be off-loaded.
• There is no proposed change in FTEs from 2024

One change coming in 2025 is that part of the workforce is being unionized for the first time and labor negotiations are underway.  It is unclear how this might impact the budget in the future.  Comm. Britton and Aguillar both commented on the apparent tensions among the Commissioners.

Veterans Assistance Commission:  Elizabeth Soto
    2025 Proposed Budget:  $2,749,020
    2025 Proposed FTEs:           14

This office is to provide immediate financial aid and other services to veterans, partnering with other community organizations and local government agencies.  The Budget Book states that for most of the year, there were only 3 full-time employees, though the current approved FTE is 11.  Currently, the office is located in the basement of the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.

Proposed 2025 budget:

• 3 more FTEs to be added and a total budget increase of $749,021.
• Expect to fill the open positions for 2024 plus these additional.
• The 3 new FTEs to be Veteran Service Officers, covering different areas of the County (North and Northwest, Chicago, and South and Southwest)

Speakers

• While the public hearing has already been held on the budget, leave was granted to hear from many veterans representing different posts throughout the County
• Many urged that more money be allocated and more employees be hired and more offices be added to provide more assistance.
• The Commissioners were surprised to learn that the initial ask from the Commission was for there to be a Veteran Service Officer hired for each Commissioner’s office.  This is a brand new position and the decision was to start with the 3 proposed.

Office of the Public Administrator:  Louis G. Apostol
    2025 Proposed Budget:  $1,889,599
    2025 Proposed FTEs:    15

This office administers estates (including any real property) of deceased County residents where there is no will or the executor is unable to administer until the estates can be disbursed to lawful inheritors.  

• Any such estate must be worth at least $10,000.
• The office produces more revenues for the County than its total budget.  Fees for administration are on a sliding scale based on the value of the estate, with lower fees for larger estates since the amount of work is generally the same no matter what the value of the estate is.
• Comm. Stamps wanted to know if the office administers more estates from disadvantaged areas, which Mr. Apostol did not know, though he stressed that the deceased were from all areas of the County.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims