Cook County Board of Commissioners
Committee Meetings March 13, 2024 FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE ON LITIGATION During the public comment period, the League of Women Voters of Cook County expressed its concern that the position of the Cook County Independent Inspector General (“IIG”) has not been filled on a permanent basis for 17 months.
AUDIT COMMITTEE: County Auditor Mary Modelski presented her report on Grant Administration and general Management at the Justice Advisory Council (JAC) in fiscal year 2022. No audit had been done in at least 10 years. The report (item 24-1025) included only grants administered through the operating fund budget (about $14 million in 2022) and excluded any ARPA grants, which will be looked at later. Issues brought up in the report or by Commissioners included the following:
The Audit report of ARPA on the Small Business Grant Program showed adequate controls on the $50 million distributed to 3,000 small businesses in Cook County. $18 million more will be granted out by 2026. Building Healthy Communities ARPA grants of about $5 million were also audited. Because of a change in designation of recipients (from sub-recipients to beneficiaries), these grants were not required to be monitored. Commissioners were concerned that no metrics, risk assessments, or financial monitoring was done. The Public Health (PH) department wanted to get the funds out upfront and quickly as COVID was prevalent at that time. The grants were intended to increase access to healthy foods, youth development, mental and behavioral health. PH department was told by Commissioners they should establish base-line monitoring so the county knows where the funds went and what the outcomes of the programs were. RULES AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE: There was a lot of discussion among commissioners and the staff of the Dept. of Human Rights & Ethics (HR & E) regarding the rules for the public to follow on the recently passed Paid Leave ordinance—effective for private businesses since January, 2024. Concerns by some Commissioners were
ASSET MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE: Item 24-1056 regarding a lease in Sauk Village for a new restorative justice court was passed in committee. Both the Public Defender and a representative from the States Attorney office seem to have smoothed over any concerns by commissioners from 2 weeks ago when those offices sent a letter stating they could not staff a new court this year. All involved will “continue conversations,” so it seems to this observer that behind the scenes agreements were made that the lease go forward and any problems would be dealt with later. What to watch for:
Observer :Karin Hribar
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Cook County Board Finance Committee Budget Hearings
October 25, 2023 - 1pm Cook County Clerk - Karen Yarborough 2024 Request Total: $76,772,474 2023 Approved: $65,849,554 2024 Total FTEs: 349 2023 FTEs: 351 Key Items from the Meeting:
Office of the Independent Inspector General - Interim IIG - Steve Cyronoski 2024 Request Total: $2,456,335 2023 Approved: $2,307,093 2024 Total FTEs: 19 2023 FTEs: 19 Key Items from Meeting:
Assessor - Fritz Kaegi 2024 Request Total: $35,848,794 2023 Approved: $35,000,768 2024 Total FTEs: 296 2023 FTEs: 286 Key points from the meeting:
Chief Judge (CJ) - Tim Evans 2024 Request Total: $343,259,173 2023 Approved: $329,470,661 2024 FTEs: 3,031 2023 FTEs: 3,020.3 Key points from the meeting:
Capital Budget - Tanya Anthony/ Jennifer Killen/ Tom Lynch/ Elizabeth Granato 2024 Proposed Total: $539.1M $238.6M for Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for County facilities $154.3M for Transportation and Highways Program (THP) $146.2M for Capital Equipment Program (CEP) for County departments PowerPoint presented outlining all these programs. Key Point from Questions:Comm. Miller asked Tom Lynch, Bureau of Technology, for clarification on cost and time frame for the various technology projects. He stated the following:
The meeting was recessed at 7:15pm. Very few commissioners still remained in the room. Observer: Cynthia Schilsky Committee Meetings for Cook County Board of Commissioners October 18, 2023 Finance Committee:
Litigation Subcommittee of Finance Committee:
Transportation Committee:
Observer - Karin Hribar Cook County Board Finance Committee – Mid-Year Budget Hearings
July 25, 2023 - Afternoon Meetings Inspector General – Steven Cyranoski, Interim IG. $2.3 million Preliminary 2024 budget
Public Administrator – Louis Apostal. $1.7 million self-funded 2024
Cook County Clerk – Karen Yarborough. $20.6 million Preliminary 2024 budget
Board of Review [BOR] – Cardenas, Steele, Rogers. $18 million Preliminary 2024 budget
Land Bank – Jessica Caffrey, Executive Director. Primarily self-funded Ms. Caffrey is relatively new to the Land Bank having worked for the County in previous roles including coordinating the development of the Old Stroger Hospital and the building of the Cook County Health’s Administrative Building on Polk.
Observer: Diane Edmundson Cook County Board of Commissioners Committee Meetings
July 19, 2023 Legislation & Intergovernmental Relations Committee
Finance Committee
Transportation Committee
Health & Hospitals Committee
Asset Management Committee
Contract Compliance Committee
Audit Committee
Observer - Kathleen Graffam Cook County Board Finance Committee Meetings on the Budget
October 25, 2022 Cook County Health (“CCH”) – Presented by CCH CEO Israel Rocha. Jr.
Miller: Addressing the issue of the new Change Institute, said that she was pleased to see more focus on "preventive vs reactionary" care, and noted the increase of 44 new positions in this new Department. She particularly asked for goals and metrics from each of the Institute's funding sources [ARPA, Grants, County] and any other new programs using ARPA and County funding. CEO Rocha responded to a question about the behavior health goals using ARPA funding stating that there are two big categories:
Next came Miller's question on the Juvenile Justice Care Coordination Program to be funded by ARPA. Two Care Coordinators will be hired for reentry and transition stabilization. When asked about the ongoing long-time issue of low patient satisfaction ratings, Rocha noted that the HIV Core Center has a great reputation and rhetorically asked "how can we use its experience?" Degnan: Wants the system to communicate more broadly that CCH is a safe home for reproductive health. Said that a specific brochure is needed focusing on the System's services. Rocha responded that he would send her the communication tools currently in use. Anaya: Responding to Anaya's concern about the length of the hiring process, Rocha said that the System has hired 350 individuals in the last 150 days and that turnover is at its lowest level in 18-20 months. Several other Commissioners noted that their questions had been covered by previous colleagues and also commended CEO Rocha on his command of the System's needs and his vision for CCH. Assessor’s Office -– Presented by Assessor Fritz Kaegi
Carrying over from the meeting with the Assessor earlier, court oversight of the offices of the Clerk of the Circuit Court and the County Clerk under the Shakman cases (which prohibit political considerations regarding most County personnel) was raised during these two meetings.
Following are more details from these meetings, along with the one with the Treasurer, who announced that she is expecting to receive the information for the 2nd installment property tax bills by November 11. If so, she said she would have bills posted on her web site and available for downloading and payment by November 15. Treasurer - Presented by Treasurer Maria Pappas
Office of the Independent Inspector General -– Presented by Acting IIG Steven Cyranoski
Clerk of the Circuit Court - Presented by Circuit Court Clerk Iris Y. Martinez
County Clerk - Presented by Clerk Karen Yarbrough
Observers: Diane Edmundson and Priscilla Mims |
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