Special Cook County Board and Finance Committee Meetings
November 16, 2023

Completing a process that began this summer, the Cook County Board unanimously passed a budget for fiscal year 2024 totaling $9.26 B on November 16, 2023.  This budget contains no increases in taxes or fees.  It does continue to utilize ARPA funds of about $264.3M, mainly for special programs, as opposed to ongoing operations.  However, as part of this budget, the County has also begun setting aside some funds for future use to continue those ARPA programs that are deemed most beneficial beyond 2026, when no further ARPA funds may be spent.  See the Observer Reports on the Budget meetings that were held on October 24 thru 26 that are posted on this web site for more information about the initial proposed budget. The 2024 fiscal year begins December 1, 2023.

Amendments to the Original Budget Proposal
The $9.26 B budget passed reflects an increase of $126 M over the initial budget proposed by President Preckwinkle in October as a result of 7 of the 22 amendments approved at the Finance Committee meeting:

• $100 M comes from allocating more of the excess in the Fund Balance at the end of FY2022 for a new Disaster Response and Recovery Special Purpose Fund that was approved at the Special Board meeting immediately prior.  Monies from this fund may only be used after a Disaster declaration at the County, State, or Federal levels.  (23-5710)  
• Pursuant to Budget Amendments #6, 7, and 8, $70 M of the total $100 M for this new Fund is allocated for new arrival health care costs which are over and above the $24 M already in the budget; $20 M is allocated for Suburban local governments’ costs in dealing with disasters, including support for new arrivals; and $10 M is allocated for disaster response and recovery due to events in FY2024.  These amendments drew the most discussion, with Commissioner Gainer asking questions as to how and who would determine when funds were to be expended, particularly with regard to funds to local governments.  The Director of Emergency Management and Regional Security and the Chief Financial Officer, in consultation with the President, will be making the determination. Quarterly reports will be provided to the Board on any such expenditures.
• Other additions to the budget are $17.5 M for capital expenditures (Amend. #5); $5.2 M from Special Purpose Fund Balances to increase expenditures from those funds in 2024 (Amend. # 2); $2.6 M in additional grant monies were identified (Amend. #4); and $818,918 from collections of special assessments on property taxes for C-PACE, which allows property owners to finance the cost of energy or other eligible improvements up front, with payback through a special assessment on their property taxes (Amend. #13).

In addition to these Amendments which increased the overall budget, other amendments moved dollars around from original line items.  Those amendments include;

• Adding a Manager of Purchasing & Operations and 3 administrative assistant positions (one for each Commissioner) to the Board of Review.  (Amend. #15)
• Adding a Special Assistant for Legal Affairs under the Office of the Secretary to provide legal assistance to the Cook County Commissioners.  (Amend. # 17)
• Increasing funding by about $1 M for Doula/Social Support Services in Cook County Health to improve maternal morbidity/mortality rates for women. (Amend. #19).  Several people spoke and submitted public comments in support.
• Adding dentistry positions for the Oral Health Program under Cook County Health that visits the clinics.  (Amend. #20)
• Funding the new ARPA program for the Food for Medicine initiative that was approved at the prior day’s Health & Hospitals Committee meeting.  (Item 23-5723 and Amend. #18)
• Adding $900,000 to the Veterans Assistance Commission. (Amend. # 9)

Public Speakers at the beginning of the Special Board Meeting included

• Sarah Wetmore, Acting President of the Civic Federation, said it supports the budget, but expressed the following concerns:  (1) the General Fund’s increasing reliance on sales tax revenues; (2) the County’s staffing shortages which result in higher costs for contractual services; (3) the need for a unified property tax office; (4) the high costs associated with unincorporated areas within the County; (5) the need for Cook County Health to increase transparency by reflecting the full County monetary support (such as for pensions) in its budget.
• Appleseed expressed concern over the continued use of electronic monitoring, which Appleseed equated as almost as problematic as incarceration in jail.  Appleseed reminded the Commissioners of Appleseed’s report earlier this year which contained a number of recommendations that have thus far not been implemented.
• Two speakers also spoke against increasing the Sheriff’s budget to provide mental health services, arguing those should be provided under other auspices.  As one speaker put it, you shouldn’t have to go to jail to receive such services.
• Another speaker spoke against the Board of Review budget.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Cook County Board - Criminal Justice Committee Meeting
September 21, 2022
​
Big controversy over Cook County Court use of SCRAM devices
Lots of contradictory points  were made by justice groups, public defender office, and some Commissioners vs. the Chief Judge’s Office regarding the Court use of SCRAM ankle bracelets for DUI and other alcohol-related defendants.  These devices measure perspiration to determine if the offender has consumed alcohol.  The wearer is to avoid all alcohol consumption.
Points made by Jim Anderson, CFO of Chief Judge Office:

• the office is pleased with the results.  Rarely is their a failure to comply by defendants/offenders
• judges are the ones to order this device as a deterrent from incarceration 
• considered a diversion program and is combined with treatment programs
• court and other penalty fees are waived if using SCRAM device and avoiding alcohol
• all contracts with SCRAM are in compliance with state law and county ordinances
• demographics of defendants on SCRam - currently 123 defendants on SCRAM -  out of over 6,000 arrested for alcohol related crimes in 2020, about 120 were on SCRAM - 46% White, 18% Black, 29% Hispanic  (historical data) - SCRAM used more often in wealthier areas of Cook County

Three circumstances where SCRAM is used in the courts (judges trying to fix the problem)
    1.  condition of probation
    2.  in bond court as a condition of release
    3.  plea deal to avoid the charge of DUI being on the defendant’s record

Points made by justice groups and some commissioners:

• cost of the device is charged to the offender—may be prohibitive expense for some—county should pay 
• concern with how the contract for this device is awarded and that these companies make a profit
• may restrict offenders in their jobs, and may need to travel in county to have device checked
• if offender can’t pay the company seeks payment through a collection agency
• ”unfair” to the poor, minorities

This item 22-4709 (resolution to have a hearing on SCRAM devices) passed unanimously out of committee to go on to entire Board.

Cook County Board - Pension Committee
September 21, 2022

A steady depletion of assets in Retirement Funds for CC and FPD despite a great investment year (2021)

• Both the Cook County government and the Forest Preserve District had good returns on investment (17.15% for Cook County) last year—mostly private equity and private real estate 
• Cook County has been paying in more than required each year since 2016
• However, there will be an eventual depletion of assets because the program cannot generate enough investment income to keep paying the growing numbers of retirees (small gap now)
• for the FPD, assets will be depleted by 2044 and this will become “pay as you go” system unless changes are made to laws (large gap now)
• in the County, there are more retirees getting benefits than employees paying into the system
• Currently there is $14.2 billion in the Cook County pension fund and $240 million in the Forest Preserve Fund
• Pension Board and its employees have been working in-person since August, 2021 interfacing with the public and well as phone counseling.
• Commissioner Kevin Morrison concerned that transgender sex transformation operations are excluded from retiree benefits.  This will be addressed at the next Pension Board meeting in October.
• Some commissioners concerned about minority investment contracts (currently 39%)

This item 19-1313 (yearly report on Retirement assets and situation) was deferred to that it can be kept open for the future.

Observer:  Karin Hribar

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting - December 17, 2020
Virtual Meeting - All Commissioners present  
President Preckwinkle left at 2:10 to attend the Covid inoculation.  Vice Chair Sims took over.

Public Speakers:

• Statements were read by the Board Secretary and included support for the change of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples day, support and opposition to the landlord/tenant ordinance, concerns about the use of electronic monitoring.

Board Actions:

• Agenda Item 21-0019 Appointment of Michelle Kohler to Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues.   Approved.
• 21-0490   The proclamation of disaster under the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act due to Covid was extended through January 31, 2021.   Passed
• 21-0295  The Department of Transportation and Highways  requested approval of the Intergovernmental Agreement between the County and Metra. Beginning in January 2021, Cook County and the region's transit agencies will launch a three-year pilot project to improve transit service for the residents of south suburban Cook and the south side of Chicago. The pilot will begin with a 50% fare reduction on the Metra Electric and Rock Island commuter rail lines and service improvements on the Pace 352 bus route.  Cook County will underwrite the costs of the participating agencies.   Passed.
• 21-0441, 21-0445  Ammar Rizki from the Bureau of Finance explained the resolutions to contribute $341,961,760 to the Pension Stabilization Fund beyond the statute required amount. FY2021 Pension Fund supplemental contributions will be made on a monthly basis in the amount of $20,000,000 from December 2020 through October 2021. The final FY 2021 Pension Fund supplemental contribution will be made during November 2021 in the amount of $33,961,760.        Passed.
• 21-001  The Department of Transportation and Highways requested approval of the proposed Improvement Resolution for the South Cook Fair Transit Pilot. The funds will go towards the planning studies and implementation of the South Cook Fair Transit Pilot in southern Cook County. These funds are to be used with both Metra and Pace working in conjunction on this project. Commission Degnen questioned how this could impact CTA ridership.   President Preckwinkle responded that the Department of Transportation is currently working with Metra and PACE and there are ongoing discussions with the CTA.   Passed
• 21-0367   Authorization to enter into an interagency agreement. The Cook County Safety and Justice Challenge Stakeholders including the Office of the Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Cook County Public Defender’s Office, and Cook County Sheriff’s Office will partner with Loyola University to provide the data to develop a data portal to host criminal justice data to support data-informed policy decision making. Commissioner Keven Morrison asked when findings will be available.     The contract is for 2 years, but data will start to be shared immediately.     Passed.
• 21-0352   This was a request from the Sheriff’s Office and the Court to expand the existing approved contract with the GPS equipment provider.  The equipment is used for electronic monitoring. The Original Approval amount was $4,064,311.50.  The increase requested was $13,389,943.00. The increase to the contract is needed due to the unforeseen significant increase in electronic monitoring (EM) participants during FY 2020 because of the Covid virus, the program to reduce the use of cash bail, and the Sheriff’s Office transitioning current EM participants from radio frequency equipment to GPS equipment. There was a one-hour discussion about this resolution.  Initially it had been decided to send the resolution to committee because several commissioners had questions before the meeting.  Other commissioners requested to approve the increase as the Sheriff’s office has said they could run out of equipment.  Commissioner Sean Morrison pointed out that this contract had been discussed and approved and that the resolution was only for additional money.  Commissioner Anaya and Commissioner Kevin Morrison had a number of questions about the current usage of equipment for both radio frequency and GPS monitoring and why the projection for money was so much.    Representatives of the Sheriff’s office had to check on answers.   The monitoring is moving from radio frequency to GPS.   The equipment is leased and so any outdated radio frequency equipment is being returned to the vendor and all GPS equipment has to be recycled to that vendor for sterilization after use Commissioners Anaya, Johnson, Miller and Degnen had concerns about the use of electronic monitoring.  Degnen, Miller, and Anaya had received a letter from George Washington University about the negatives in using electronic monitoring.  That is why they wanted the whole program to be discussed in committee.  Passed    14 yes 3 no
• 20-3460 Juneteenth Recognized as a paid Cook County Holiday.   Several Commissioners spoke in favor of this.    There was no discussion about costs.   Passed.

​Follow Up Items

• Agenda Item 20-5667 PROPOSED RESOLUTION Requesting Presentations from the Cook County Treasurer and Cook County Assessor to Discuss the Impact of Increased Property Taxes on Constituents

Observer:  Kathleen Graffam                                                        Meeting Length:  5 hours