Cook County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee Meeting
October 28, 2025

Board of Review – Larry Rogers, Jr., George Cardenas, Samantha Steele

Proposed 2026 Budget:  $ 23.96 Million    Proposed 2026 Positions:              177.0
Actual 2025 Budget:        $ 21.30 Million    Actual 2025 Approved Positions:   167.0
Difference:                          +$   2.66 Million    Difference:                   + 10.0

Comm. Rogers, the current chair of the Board of Review (BoR), had a conflict, so Liliana Escarpita, the Secretary to the BoR, gave the presentation.  Comms. Cardenas and Steele were also present to answer questions.

• The additional positions are for each of the Commissioner’s staffs (now each has 42 positions), administration, Information technology, and Legal.  The BoR will be negotiating its first contract with a bargaining unit that will now be representing 2/3s of the employees.  A labor counsel and additional person in personnel are being added as a result.
• The amount of budgeted overtime is being cut by 36% as a result of the additional positions and further efficiencies in dealing with appeals, also made possible with the additional technology positions.  For 2025, the BoR will utilize less than the budgeted overtime.
• Comm. Lowry asked whether the Assessor and BoR are now using the same parameters for assessments.  Comm. Steele said that the Assessor is not loading the CAP rate for all commercial properties, which results in over-assessment.  
• Comm. Steele said that a major reason for inaccurate assessments by the Assessor is the lack of physical review of all properties in the County.  Every county, except Cook, is required under state law to have such reviews.  However, Comm. Steele said that the cost is high:  she estimated $60 per parcel and Cook has 1.6 M parcels, 1.2 M of which are residential.  The benefits would be more accurate assessments resulting in fewer appeals and the public having more confidence in the assessments, which would also help reduce the number of residents and businesses leaving the County.  Comm. Steele said that Cook County has a 33% appeal rate vs. about 5% nationwide.
• Comm. McCaskill asked why drones and advanced software were not being used to accomplish the physical reviews.  Comm. Britton mentioned that the Board had recently approved a contract to utilize drones and Comm. McCaskill might want to talk to the Technology Bureau or Jim Thompson, the Director of Tax Policy for the President.
• Comm. Vasquez asked whether there are any specific policies that should be pursued at the State level.  Comm. Steele said a cap on assessment increases for properties.  She said that her staff was talking about looking at the impact of having ICE agents active in the area on people not coming to events to  learn how to appeal and on small businesses closing due to lack of customers.  Comm. Cardenas added that there needs to be a circuit breaker to help lower income people pay property taxes.

Chicago Board of Elections Commissioners – Sandra Aspera, Executive Director
Proposed 2026 Budget:  $ 23.57 Million    Proposed 2026 Positions:                4.0
Actual 2025 Budget:        $   1.05 Million    Actual 2025 Approved Positions:     4.0
Difference:                            +$ 22.52 Million    Difference:                       --

Also appearing with Ms. Aspera were Max Bever, Director of Public Information, and Adam Lasker, General Counsel for the Board of Elections (BoE).  The BoE is responsible for voter registration and elections within the City of Chicago, while the Cook County Clerk handles those functions for Suburban Cook County.  The BoE is partially funded by the County and partially by Chicago.

• Ms. Aspera gave the overview.  For 2026 the BoE will handle the March 17 Primary and November 3 elections and will recruit and train 8,000 election workers, 2,000 of which are expected to be high school and college election judges.  The Board will also be handling the election of 21 candidates for the Chicago School Board.  A new Super Site will be located at 137 S. State in downtown Chicago.  The BoE has a new not-for-profit postage rate that resulted in a savings of $600,000 for the annual voter canvas.
• Comm. Stamps asked whether there is a budget to use to expand voter participation in lower turnout areas.  Mr. Bever explained that in addition to the annual voter canvas, there is a mailing to households closer to the election which provides the closest early voting location and the local polling location, as well as provide information on voting by mail.  There is also reach-out via publications and working with community groups and churches.  There will also be a new mobile app that will allow for reminders for voting. The costs for all of this is covered by the budget funded by Chicago. 
• Comm. Stamps asked about whether there is a danger that vote-by-mail will not be allowed.  Mr. Lasker said there is a challenge at the U.S. Supreme Court on Illinois’ 14-day period to count vote-by-mail ballots postmarked on or before election day, but received after that day.  Mr. Lasker said that the worst-case scenario resulting from that case would be that Illinois would not be able to count such ballots received after election day.  Mr. Bever said that the BoE currently has 150,000 registered voters on the permanent vote-by-mail list and that roughly 1/3 of those casting ballots use vote-by-mail ballots, either mailing or using the secure drop boxes.
• Comm. Vasquez asked whether there are discussions about beefing up election central to receive calls in the event that ICE agents would be near the polls or attempting to enter into the polls.  The response was that election central is going to be beefed up, but that there is a need to bring the discussion up with the State Board of Elections.  
• Comm. Morita asked whether there are any functions that the BoE does that are not done by the Clerk’s office for Suburban voters.  Given the answer was “no,” Comm. Morita asked whether there are redundancies that could be eliminated if the two offices merged.  Mr. Bever said that he did not see any significant cost savings that could be achieved because the same number of election workers and polling places and equipment would be needed.  Each election authority has roughly 1.5 M voters.

Public Administrator – Louis Apostol
Proposed 2026 Budget:  $ 1.955 Million    Proposed 2026 Positions:              15.0
Actual 2025 Budget:        $ 1.890 Million    Actual 2025 Approved Positions:   15.0
                Difference:           +$ 0.065 Million    Difference:                       --

Louis Apostal could not be there so the General Counsel for the Office, Leah Jakubowski, gave the presentation. 

• The Office manages estates for those who die without a will and works to find the heirs.  The fees for such management are charged to the estates, and the Office generates far more money than its expense budget.  It has generated $2.2 M in fees in 2025 and expects to have received 120% of its target revenue by the end of the year.
• Comm. Stamps asked about community engagement to educate people, particularly in lower income areas, about what happens if you die without a will.  Ms. Jakubowski said that there has been none, but that as a result of similar questions from Comm. Stamps at the mid-year budget review, the office is starting to identify community organizations that the Office could contact to offer to send a speaker.  Comm. Stamps strongly recommended that the Office connect with the Clerk’s office which has a “Property after Death” program.
• Comm. Stamps also asked where the estates that the Office manages are located.  Ms. Jakubowski said that the Office would provide a list by zip code.

​League Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting 
December 16, 2021

Cook County’s Plan for Use of American Rescue Plan Funds

• The Commissioners voted to refer the proposal to extend the  American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Framework through March 31, 2022 to  the Finance Committee.   Commissioner Dailey said a meeting will be held the week of January 10th dedicated to ARPA.
• ​Led by Anmar Rizki, members of President Preckwinkle’s staff presented the framework for using the ARPA funds and the proposed short- term initiatives.    The framework  for selecting projects including objectives and method of soliciting feedback from the community was first presented to the Board in June.  The County received $1 billion.  The money will be spent on County operations, near term funding opportunities to improve the lives of residents, and transformative initiatives.  The plan is to use a third of the money in  each of the next 3 years.  In this fiscal year  $100 million will be spent on County operations to make up for the revenue loss due to covid.   $285 million will be spent in community program initiatives.
• The near term proposed projects were presented to the Board.   Of special interest was a grant to  Cook County Health. To meet the growing behavioral health needs of Cook County residents, Cook County Health (CCH) proposes transforming its current Behavioral Health footprint to offer a robust menu of mental and behavioral health services and ensure easy access to services of all County residents. The first year will focus on creating and setting up a new Department of Mental Health Services, expanding existing CCH programs, and planning for long term expansions.
• In the area of violence prevention, funds will be given to the Justice Advisory Council to expand  community-based services supporting justice-involved adults or youth, and those at high risk of experiencing violence as either a victim or perpetrator. Communities served include areas in Chicago and suburban Cook County with highest incidents of shootings and homicides as well as justice system involvement. Services include direct street-level intervention, mentoring, basic needs assistance, educational and vocational programming, and behavioral health and wellness support.
• For more information click here: ARPA Rescue Plan at a Glance
• For an explanation of the framework and process for choosing programs click here: Cook County American Rescue Plan Act Framework Board of Commissioners Briefing

 
Board Action:

• The Board approved the request by the Cook County Clerk to consolidate some voting precincts.           Ed Michalowski from the County Clerk’s Office presented their plan to combine precincts that vote in the same polling places.  169 polling places would be eliminated. It is estimated that the County will save $200,000 for each election. Fewer election judges and equipment would be needed. It also would be less confusing for the voters. The change needed to be approved at this meeting, because the Clerk's office needs to publicize the new precincts before primary candidates start seeking signatures on their petitions. The Cook County League of Women Voters sent a letter in support of this change. There were several public speakers including mayors of suburbs who spoke against this. Some of them thought that the polling places would be changed which is not the case. Some thought they should have  had more time to review these changes. Commissioner Aguilar proposed deferring the request until a meeting could be held on it. The proposal to defer was defeated.
• Approved the Sheriff’s office request for  authorization to continue the Intergovernmental Agreement between that office and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to collect and dispose of pharmaceutical drugs. The Sheriff’s Office will expand the Prescription Drug Take-Back Program in which pharmaceutical drugs are collected and disposed of through environmentally sound methods to maximize the volume of pharmaceutical drugs prevented from entering the Chicago Area Waterway System.  Commissioner Suffredin spoke in support of the item.  
• Approved the amendment to the Ethics Ordinance to reflect the changes required by the passage of Illinois Ethics and Lobbying Statute.   The Ordinance had been on hold while waiting for Illinois to pass its statute.   County officials will be under the state statute in regard to lobbying restrictions.   The County ordinance also strengthened the power of the Ethics Board and included a section on sexual harassment.  
• Approved a resolution to have a hearing on the environmental, social, and governance factors in the choice of investments by the County Pension Plan.
• Approved the establishment of the Cook County Health Intervention Response Team Task Force. The Task Force will create a pilot program to devise a continuum of care for those experiencing mental and behavioral health needs.
• Approved authorization for the contract amendment for the demolition of the John Sengstacke Health Center on the Provident Hospital campus.   The demolition was delayed due to covid and should be completed in early spring.
• Approved a resolution to have a meeting of Cook County elected officials and departments to discuss a county-wide anti-violence strategy.

 
​Observer: Kathi Graffam

Cook County Board of Commissioners - December 12, 2018
            Committees: Rules and Administration, Zoning and Building, Finance
​Meeting Length:  2 hours

What did the Board decide?

• At a previous Board meeting, it was decided that starting in 2019, all committees will meet the day prior to the regular Board meeting instead of the same day.  This was reiterated to the audience since one speaker complained. 
• Comm. Suffredin explained general procedures for approval of court cases, litigation and workers comp payments and encouraged new Board members to learn about these cases.  Judges are pleased to discuss this with new Board members.  
• Unanimous approval by the Board to repeal a parking tax break (Ordinance 18-5789) for parking app users such as Spot Hero. The tax was scheduled to drop to 1.75% in January, but with the repeal the tax will remain at 6%.
• Approved the creation of a Census Count Commission  (Agenda Item 19-0733)

What else did the Board discuss or refer to committee?
​
         The following items were referred to these respective committees:
Legislation & Intergovernmental Relations Committee

• Ordinance to increase age for purchase of tobacco products to 21 (Agenda Item 19-0605)
• Amendment to the Inspector General Ordinance that would enable financial and prison penalties for leaking confidential Inspector General reports information (Agenda Item 19-0602)

Criminal Justice Committee

• Restrictions on the use of Gang Intelligence Data Base (Agenda Item 19-0687)
• Create a Charitable Rotating Bond Fund (Agenda Item 19-0768)

Finance Committee

• Fair Elections Program and Fund which would provide public matching funds of up to $1,500,000 per year  for Cook County elected offices and commissioner elections (Agenda Item 19-0689)

Economic Development Committee

• Historical Property Tax Exemption (Agenda Item 19-0688)

 
Observer - Karin Hribar 

Cook County Board Finance Committee - Departmental Budget Hearings
October 24, 2018

Cook County Assessor
​Cook County Treasurer
Chicago Board of Elections
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Office of the Secretary to the Board

There were 10 Cook County Commissioners present.

Cook County Assessor: Joseph Berrios                            
Budget Highlights:

• The department’s proposed budget of 25.4 million is within the county target
• Planned technological enhancements will allow this office to operate more efficiently. 
• Develop and implement Property Tax system with other county agencies for full launch expected in 2020.
• Fraud unit is working well to make sure people are not defrauding the system. Approximately $35 Million have been collected.
• Working to create new tools and policies that will aid in the development of more affordable housing countywide.

Comments:
The Commissioners thanked Assessor Berrios for his serve.

Cook County Treasurer: Maria Pappas
Budget Highlights:

• FY2019 will be the 18th consecutive year that the Treasurer’s Office has reduced its budget above and beyond the budgetary targets requested.
• Very proud of the fact that all of the IT services are done in house. 
• Technological improvements have reduced costs, and improved services
• Treasurers collect $14 billion each year in taxes from owners of more than 1.8 million parcels of property.

Comments:
Maria Pappas, commented that tax bills are being sent out in a timely matter and more and more people are accessing their bills and paying their bills online. March Bills will be online in December. This has saved the county money. Commissioners pointed out that all of the IT work is done in house and this has saved the County money. They also noted that the Cook County Treasurer’s Website is very user friendly.

Chicago Board of Election: Lance Gough, Executive Director
Budget Highlights:

• In 2019, key operations of the Board of elections will involve managing the municipal elections and runoffs in February and April.
• The City of Chicago will bear the full costs of the 2019 Municipal Elections

Comments:
Board of Elections is continuing to grow online registrations. There has been an increase of early voting in the city and a growing participation in Vote by Mail. Commissioners asked whether new voting machines would be ready for the February and April elections. Mr. Gough responded that they will not be ready and the City of Chicago will be using the same equipment that is being used for the November 2018 Election. New equipment will be ready for the 2020 Presidential Election. He is confident that the new equipment will be secure. There was also discussion concerning the lack of polling places and judges in the City. Chicago is moving towards Voting Centers. Condominiums and schools do not want to open their spaces for voting. He said that the Super Site on West Washington is working well.

Clerk of the Circuit Court -  Dorothy Brown
Budget Highlights:

• Removal of furlough days
• There has been a reduction in staff
• Implementation of the required eFilelL system, has caused significant difficulties for the Clerks’ office. This is due to the complexity of the system along with the volume of cases filed in Cook County.
• Case Management System (CMS) will serve all areas of law to advance technology and improve efficiency while reducing costs, improve efficiency of court operations, improve customer service, and enhance information access offered to the public.  Criminal division will go live by March 2019, and all other areas of law will go live by November 2019.

Comments:
Dorothy Brown commented that as of July 2018, e-Filing has become mandatory for all civil areas of law. This system has caused difficulties for the Clerk’s office as the staff has had to provide extra-specialized customer service assistants to both self-represented litigants and attorneys, in order for them to e-File successfully. The challenge is not having enough employees to help. The Commissioners suggested that perhaps they might need to charge for providing help. They also suggested that a printed quick reference card or TV presentation with directions as to how to use the system could be implemented. It was noted that this system was created first for smaller counties, and then implemented for use in Cook County. Dorothy Brown would like to hire more people but cannot until they meet the budget requirement concerning the furlough days. 

Office of the Secretary to the Board - Matthew De Leon
Budget Highlights:

• Full time employees will remain the same for FY2019

Matthew De Leon reported on the Highlights of last year some of which are as follows:

• Redesigned Secretary to the Board website to improve access to information.
• Completed media inventory of 35-year collection of audio and video recordings transferred from Department of Facilities Management.
• Replaced the 50 year old sound system
• Created virtual record of paper documents for all 2016 and 2017 County and Forest Preserve Board meetings.
• Goal for the Archives Advisory Committee
• Began process for County 2031: Cook County’s: Bicentennial Celebration.

Matthew De Leon presented a power point presentation of some of the old archive materials for the Bicentennial Celebration in 2031. You can go to Legistar to see this presentation.

​Commissioners had suggestions for the Board meetings and the boardroom

• During the meetings, the President or person leading the meeting should announce not only the item number but the page it is on, for example when referring to an item, such as item 18-111, you include that this item is on page 10 of the agenda. This will be helpful for commissioners that leave the room or  for an audience member that arrives after the Board meeting has started.   
• ADA compliance needs to be done
• Railing on stairs down to where the Commissioners sit
• Clock with a timer

Matthew De Leon stated that some of these request would be handled at the Capital Budget Hearing on Friday October 26.

Observer: Nancy Marcus (11:00-2:00 with an hour break for lunch)

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting - September 12, 2018

What the Board Decided:
The following Items were approved: 

• Cook County Health and Hospitals System (CCHHS) Preliminary Budget (Agenda Item 18-1619) 
• Contract Compliance Proposal to create a Small Business Commission (Agenda Item 18-4541)
• Report of the Bureau of Technology - IT Consolidation Report (Agenda Item 18-4828)
• An Amendment to the Ordinance that established the CCHHS Board dealing with the scope and distribution of clinical services that require approval or notification to President and the Cook County Board (Agenda Item 18-1126)
• Independent Auditor’s report of the financial statements of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County for period ended on 11/30/2017 (Agenda Item 18-4734)
• An Ordinance preventing the detention of juveniles under the age of 13 (Agenda Item 18-4955

The following item was referred to committee:

• Ordinance Amendment on IT Consolidation was referred to the Technology and Innovation Committee (Agenda Item 18-5634)

The following items were Deferred:

• Proposed Ordinance Amendment of CC Board of Review Operation and Administrative Fund was deferred again as done on July 25.(Agenda Item 16-6437)
• Creating a Bulk User Fee for the Board of Review (Agenda Item 18-5013).  
• Propose that Commissioners create a preference for businesses owned by people with disabilities under Procurement Ordinance (Agenda Item 18-4162). 

The following item was Withdrawn

• Authorization for the Office of the County Clerk to purchase election equipment from Dominion Voting Systems.(Agenda Item 18-2409)

Other Observations  

• Before the Board Meeting I observed the last quarter hour of the Budget Meeting where Dr. Jay Shannon spoke about the CCHHS.  Their aim is to “save lives while saving money”.  He spoke for the approval of 18-1619--specifically the needs for continued modest gains and equipment upgrades.  The CCHHS provides 50% of charity care in Cook County.  Commissioner Gainer inquired about the turnover.  Dr. Shannon replied that it is between 5 to 8 % monthly. 
• Regarding 18-2409 Election Equipment, the Clerk’s office is working to diminish threats to elections.  They are aiming for the highest quality for the lowest price.  There will be an eventual staged rollout.  “You can’t have all new equipment at once.” 

 Observer - Jill Althage                                     Meeting Length - 1 hour and 20 minutes (11:10am to 12:30pm)