League of Women Voters of Cook County
  • Home
  • About
    • LWVCC Interest Groups >
      • Cook County Budget & Structure Group
      • Criminal Justice
      • Forest Preserve Interest Group
    • LWVCC Action and Testimony
    • LWVCC Activities
  • Observer Reports
    • Cook County Board Observer Reports
    • MWRD Board Observer Reports
    • Forest Preserve Board Observer Reports
    • CCH Board Observer Reports
  • Voter Info
  • Resources
    • Cook County Board
    • Forest Preserve Board
    • Cook County Elected Officials
    • MWRD Board
    • Cook County Health Board
    • Member Resources

Commissioners Approve Appointments and Review 10-Year-Old Wage Theft Ordinance

5/21/2025

0 Comments

 
Cook County Board of Commissioners 
Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee 
May 14, 2025


  • The Committee approved all the proposed appointments on the agenda, including the appointment of Dr. Kiran Joshi as the Chief Operating Officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH). Several of the Commissioners gave glowing statements about Dr. Joshi and his past work with the County and how glad they were to have him assume this position. Dr. Joshi said that his goal is to have the CCDPH be the best health department in the country. (Item 25-2308)
  • The appointment of Alexandra Lara to the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) Advisory Board was followed up by comments from Comm. Degnan concerning the transition of the JTDC into 2 programs - a day program and an in-house program - and how important the Advisory Board will be to assist in this transition.  (Item 25-2325) 
  • Comm. Stamps wanted to have more clarification about the process for filling positions on the JTDC Advisory Board as she observed that there were several vacancies when she attended a meeting recently. She expanded this request to ask what the process is and how does one know about vacancies on any board/commission and also what are all the Boards and Commissions. Comm. Morita said they only find out about these positions when they come before them for approval. A representative from the President’s Office said there there is an application process and they also take recommendations when a position needs to be filled. She also said that there are so many boards and commissions that it is hard to keep track of all the vacancies. She said they are looking into a way of compiling the information and perhaps revamping the process for filling the positions as well as making the information more available.
  • The other item of business on the agenda - a proposed amendment regarding gender inclusive documents and forms (Item 25-1822) was deferred with no discussion or explanation.

Joint meeting of the Cook County Board Committees - Legislative and Intergovernmental Relations Committee and the Labor Committee
May 14, 2025
  • These two committees met to hold a Public Hearing to review the effectiveness of the Cook County Wage Theft Ordinance that was passed 10 years ago to address the issue of wage theft and to protect workers from exploitive labor practices. (Item 25-2344)
  • Comm Anaya said that in checking with all the County departments named in the ordinance there have been no complaints filed since passage in 2015. While wage theft itself is not a violation of the Cook County Code, the ordinance does disqualify any businesses that have been found guilty of wage theft from obtaining contracts, a business license or a tax incentive from the County.
Three public speakers from agencies that work with the workers this ordinance was meant for, outlined the following concerns with the ordinance;
  • The ordinance does not detail how employees can file complaints.
  • Workers need to be educated so they know their rights and what to do if their rights are violated.
  • The ordinance does not include an effective way to hold employers accountable.
  • There needs to be a better route for enforcement than the lengthy legal route.
  • There needs to be better collaboration to ensure enforcement. 
Commissioner comments:
  • Comm. Daley - asked what could be learned from this ordinance. There needs to be some mechanism for filing complaints and cooperation among the departments involved for sharing information about violations.  
  • Comm. Britton - asked about tracking of private actions taken concerning violations. County does not get information from the Illinois Department of Labor about violations. 
  • Comm. Lowry stated that the Illinois Department of Labor has jurisdiction on labor violations.
  • Comm. Vasquez - wanted to know how departments were working together and said they needed to ensure communications between departments on these issues.
  • Chicago Alderman Quesada (formerly a Cook County Commissioner) joined the meeting and was asked to make comments as he was one of the sponsoring commissioners for requesting this hearing. He stated that there is back-sliding of labor rights and it is necessary for partners to work together to ensure worker’s rights and to remain vigilant about the rights of workers. 

​Observer - Cynthia Schilsky

0 Comments

Departmental Budget Hearings Continue

10/29/2023

0 Comments

 
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:
  • Regarding Revenue generation the Clerk’s office is working on digitizing the records from 1871-1974 to provide access to these records to the public through a Scan on Demand program
  • With the termination of Shakman oversight in her office Clerk Yarborough said this will now allow her HR department to do their job.
  • The office is piloting a project in Palatine Township for online services to place an order for documents from her office.
  • When asked about the integration of the Tyler System in her office she said that it still needs to integrate with their cashier system and she estimates the cost at about $400,000. There has been years of delay with this integration and she indicated that $150,000 was spent on an interface with the mainframe prior to the Tyler system.
  • Comm. Morita asked about the consolidation of election results between the County and Chicago - wanting to know if the process for consolidation will be expedited by the March election and the Clerk indicated they hoped that would be the case.


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:
  • Mr. Cyronoski indicated that the number of cases the office investigates has increased and he thinks this is probably due to an increased knowledge about the office. He also indicated that 85-91% of their recommendations are adopted.
  • Comm. Degnan asked if there should be a fresh look at the way the reports from the office are reviewed by the Board. Instead of being referred to the Finance Litigation Sub-committe (they usually meet in Closed Session) perhaps there should be a committee designated just for review of the reports or they should come to the Finance Committee as a whole and be reviewed in public. Comm. Degnan indicated that the public (in particular the LWVCC) wants to know that the reports are read and there is follow-up on the recommendations. Mr. Cyronoski indicated that the report is a public report and does not need to be discussed in private.
  • Comm. Anaya asked why there was not 100% compliance with their recommendations. Mr. Cyronoski indicated that there can be disagreement with their recommendations and that would be indicated in their report. The office of the IIG has no authority to require that a department comply with their recommendations.
  • The office is budgeted for 19 positions and at present 16 positions are filled. They are looking to fill an investigator position and the Deputy IIG position is being left open until the new IIG position is filled so they will be able to appoint their own deputy. At that time Mr. Cyronoski will resume his role as Legal Counsel in the office.
  • Comm. Morita asked about whether the office went beyond their investigative function to do program review. Mr. Cyronoski indicated that the office served a “good government function” and was not really charged with program review.

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:
  • The Assessor said that appeals to his office have declined. The office has done 250 Outreach Events and they will continue with outreach and also continue to expand the number of languages used in these efforts. The office is about to finalize their 5 year strategic plan.
  • Comm. Aguilar asked about the timeline for next year’s tax bills and the Assessor said he thought that next year the bills would be on a better timeline. 
  • Comm. Anaya asked about the mechanism for keeping track of the various tax incentives granted by the board (6A, 6B, Class 8 etc) and also questioned the effectiveness of the incentives. Assessor Kaegi said that the Assessor role is a ministerial role concerning tax incentives. Granting of a tax incentive begins with the municipalities and once approved at that level the Economic Development Advisory Council (EDAC) verifies that all criteria are met, in particular the job creation criteria. Then the tax incentive is approved by the Board of Commissioners. If a property is still vacant after 2 years the incentive can be withdrawn. Comm. Anaya further said that tax incentives are an issue that needs further discussion at a different time.
  • Comm. Trevor asked if the decrease in appeals was for residential and commercial properties and the Assessor said the decrease was more on the residential properties. 
  • Comm. Moore wanted to know about the timeline and the funding to get the office off of the mainframe. Assessor Kaegi said that about $150,000 has been allocated for consultants to help get the information transferred from the mainframe into their system and that should be done by April and no more funding should be required.
  • Comm. Stamps asked for information about lists that were sent to the commissioners with the names of seniors who had not reapplied for their Senior Freeze exemptions. Kaegi said that these individuals had been contacted by their office but many had still not reapplied. They need to apply every year. He also said that his office is having a Train the Trainer program to instruct people in how to help people get the exemptions they are entitled to.
  • Comm. Moore requested that the Assessor explain how Appraised Value and Assessed Value are used within the Assessor’s office. Kaegi said the Appraised Value is the Market Value for a property and is used for purposes other than taxation. Once that value is established the Assessed Value in Cook County is determined as 10% of the Appraised Value for residential properties. For commercial properties the Assessed Value is 25% of the Appraised Value. Location and size are the biggest drivers of determining value and his office makes every effort to watch out for bias to keep from over or under valuation.

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:
  • Chief Judge Evans stated that an analysis of the Restorative Justice Courts has been completed by his office and the report has been sent to the commissioners. The report indicates that the recidivism rate is much lower for persons going through these courts than those going through the regular court system. 
  • Chief Judge Evans also reported on the institution of the no cash bail aspect of the Pre-trial Safety Act. He stated that from September 18 to October 14, 3300 cases had been filed and of that number SAs had petitioned for detention in 476 of the cases. Of that number 232 persons were detained pre-trial. Of those released only 3 persons were arrested again. He says that all is going well at this point but it has only been 1 month.
  • The CJ reported what he is doing about the SCRAM situation. This involves a test that can be ordered by a judge that will test for alcohol in a person’s system and keep them from driving if their level is too high. This service was contracted to a company and his office wanted to expand the contract and before that could happen the contract expired. The company has continued to provide the service under the old contract when a judge ordered it for a defendant. This service is paid for by the defendant on a sliding scale payment system and not paid for by the county or the tax payer. The CJ has established a working group to write a report that will indicate how many persons are ordered to use this service and how much money the company is collecting for providing the service. A new RFP may also be forthcoming.
  • Update on the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC). Equip for Equality gave a report to the CJ with recommendations for changes that are beginning to be instituted. There is no longer a 7pm bedtime. Programs are provided for the detainees in the evenings. Training in de-escalation procedures will begin in early November. There are 322 vacant positions. A Job Fair was held on Oct. 16 and 400 people attended and 386 applications were received. 35 positions have been filled and he is hoping to have all positions filled by the end of the year.
  • The pilot program for DV Orders of Protection during non-business hours that began in September of 2022 has indicated that the service should be provided. The pilot provided for services on weekdays from 9pm-3am and on Saturdays from 1-6pm. During the pilot there were 917 petitions for emergency orders and 699 orders were issued by Judges. The CJ would like to expand it to 24/7 if possible, since the pilot program does seem to indicate a need. 
  • Comm. Daley asked if anyone has been detained pre-trial without a request from the SA. The CJ stated that there is no constitutional requirement that a SA file a petition - a judge could make that determination on his own. Daley also asked about the continuances and what is being done about those. The CJ stated that there now is a system in place that will track why cases are being continued and the system is easy to use. Daley indicated that there may need to be a meeting to get more clarity about this issue.
  • Comm. Degnan asked about enabling recording in court rooms in addition to court reporters. The CJ said he could support working on this. She also asked about the EMIT System that is the technology system that is supposed to connect the Judge’s order, the Clerk of the Court, and the Sheriff. He indicated he is open to working on the process. She also asked about when he will be able to get off the mainframe. He indicated that they are working to get off by June 2024. 

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 Property Project - the Integrated property tax system - including the offices of the Assessor, The Board of Review, the Treasurer and the Clerk dates back to 2014 when Tyler was selected as the system for all the tax offices. The Board of Review had contracted 2 years previously with a different system for the case management of appeals that was to be integrated with Tyler. At the present time the Assessor is fully on Tyler. The Treasurer and the Clerk were supposed to be on by the end of the year but it was decided that it was too risky to do this in the middle of a tax cycle so now all offices have agreed that by the 3rd quarter of 2024 they will all be on Tyler.
  • Since 2015 $59.8M has been spent on the Property Project - some in the Operating budget, some in GIS budget, and some in the Capital budget. Projecting for 2024 an additional $13M will be needed. Mr. Lynch indicated that the Tyler contract has not increased but the time frame has definitely been extended and thus the ancillary costs have increased by millions part of which has been to maintain the legacy system (the mainframe). 
  • The other Project involves the offices of the Clerk of the Court, The Chief Judge and the States Attorney getting off the mainframe. Each of these offices has a time frame to get off the legacy system during 2024 and their budgets reflect the costs involved. He thinks that all are funded adequately to make this happen and all have agreed to the timeline. He also stated that the Justice Integration Project will be presented at the Technology Committee Meeting of the Board in November 2023.

The meeting was recessed at 7:15pm. Very few commissioners still remained in the room.  

Observer: Cynthia Schilsky
0 Comments

Cook County Board Committees Approve Food Desert Tax Incentive and Reduction of Adoption Fees

10/24/2022

0 Comments

 
Cook County Board Committee Meetings
October 19, 2022

Note:  All items approved in Committee are expected to be passed at the Oct. 20 meeting by the Full Board concurring with the recommendations of the Committees.

Business & Economic Development Committee
  • Approved a new property tax incentive for a new grocery store or retention of an existing grocery store in a location included in the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Illinois Food Deserts Annual Report.  The property owner receiving the incentive will be assessed at 10% of market value for 10 years, with an opportunity to renew once for an additional 10 years. (Item 22-5345)
  • There were a number of public comments from municipalities and realtors applauding this proposal as a way to bring healthy food to areas that lack such options.
  • Kudos were given to Commissioner Donna Miller by fellow Commissioners.

Finance Committee
  • Approved a reduction in court adoption fees to $89, which is consistent with the corresponding fees in the surrounding counties, from $265.  Commissioner Suffredin explained the Presiding Judge Taylor had noticed that the number of adoptions in Cook County had fallen while the numbers in the other counties were rising.  The presumption is that Cook County’s higher fees is the cause.  Some other related fees were also reduced.  (Items 22-5510 and 22-5512)
  • Approved a substitute resolution from Commissioner Miller for the “Cook County Justice40 Infrastructure Fund Initiative.”  The “Justice40 Initiative” is a whole-of-government intitiative to ensure that Federal agencies work with state and local communities to deliver at least 40% of the benefits from Federal investment in climate and clean energy to disadvantaged communities.  This resolution states that Cook County is committed to applying for federal monies under the Federal Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), that the County shall adhere to the County’s Procurement Code with regard to equitable participation of minority and women business enterprises for any such IIJA or IRA grants received, and that the Budget Director shall report on IIJA or IRA grants received and on American Rescue Plan Act programs that incorporate Justice40 principles on a quarterly basis.  (Item 22-3910)

Technology & Innovation Committee
  • The Committee met to hear reports from the Chief Information Officer Tom Lynch on the Major Technology Projects in the county and on the Integrated Automated Criminal Justice Systems Report, as well as from the County offices.  Generally, CIO Lynch was positive.  He also reported on the status of moving the remaining applications off of the main frame.  As he explained, there are fewer and fewer people who have the expertise to maintain these applications and the cost is high.  
  • No one from the offices of the Board of Review or the State’s Attorney were at the meeting to provide the required reports, much to the irritation of the Commissioners.  As a result, the Committee deferred the item on the Major Projects Report to a later meeting when those offices would be present.  Comm. Degnen wants to know when the Board of Review will commit to moving from the main frame to the Integrated Property Tax System. (Item 22-5023)
  • Comm. Daley asked whether the technology issues that helped cause the delay in the 2nd installment property tax bill this year would also impact next year’s 2nd installment.  The Assessor’s office stated that there should not be such a significant delay next year.
  • Comm. Daley also inquired why no report had yet been produced on the number of criminal cases delayed and whether at the request of the State’s Attorney or defendant’s attorneys.  The Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office explained that while that information is available for each case by reading each file, there is no data coding to capture it and produce a report.  That office is currently working on the new Traffic Court applications, and will turn to adding the data codes that will allow future reports for the Commissioners.   

Emergency Management & Regional Security Committee
  • Heard a presentation from the new Executive Director of the Cook County Emergency Management & Regional Security, Theodore (Ted) Berger, who had previously worked as the Deputy Director prior to taking other positions with the County.  
  • Mr. Berger presented the organization chart (which has 2 key openings for the Chief Deputy Director and Deputy Director for Operations). 
  • The Department assists municipalities with emergency situations; has built mutual aid capacity to loan equipment and materials so each municipality does not have to purchase them, and provides expertise and helps secure grants to benefit all of Cook County.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims
0 Comments

Cook County Board Approves Ordinance Calling for an End to "Zero Tolerance" Policy of U. S. President

7/5/2018

0 Comments

 
Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting - June 27, 2018

Board decisions:  
  • Commissioner Garcia introduced and the Board unanimously passed Resolution #18-4466 addressing the harmful effects of family and immigrant children detention and calling on the U.S. Attorney General, Congress, and the Executive Branch to rescind the "Zero Tolerance" policy.  Seven public speakers, including psychologists and immigration specialists, testified to the harmful effects on children's brains from family separation.  The resolution further called on the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security to retract their Memorandum of Agreement that allows the Office for Refugee Resettlement to share data on minors and potential sponsors with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and to keep the work of these agencies separate.
  • ​The Finance Committee and Board passed Resolution 18-3651 amending the Cook County Medical Examiner's Ordinance to give the agency "discretion" about whether to go to the scene of deaths.  According to President Preckwinkle, the Examiner's office would need a yearly budget of $35 million to send an investigator out to all suspicious deaths in Cook County & Chicago.  Its current budget is $14 million, and next year's county-wide budget is facing a big shortfall.  In response to editorial criticism, the Chief Medical Examiner said that the department knows of no cases in which not going to the scene of a death compromised an investigation.
  • The Finance Committee and Board passed Resolution 18-4201 which amends Section 74-63 Assessment Classes to allow a municipality or the Cook County Board to declare a property "abandoned" specifically for the CEERM Program [Critical Emergency Employee Retention Modification].  At least 250 positions must be retained in order to obtain this determination of special circumstances.  There are several other requirements that must also be met. 
Two Good News items:
  • Commissioner Daley, reported that on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, the U.S. District Court freed Cermak Health Services from an eight-year consent decree.   In 2010 the Department of Justice cited "the failure to protect inmates from harm by fellow inmates, inadequate medical and mental health care, and a lack of adequate fire safety and sanitation."
  • Commissioner Schneider reported that, because of its participation, the County received a check for $1.9 million from a class-action law suit covering faulty flat-panel TV screens.  No other information was provided, but kuddos were given to the staff that quickly responded when the opportunity to participate arose.
The following Resolutions were referred to Committee: 
  1. 18-4552: Request for up to $175 million in sales tax revenue bonds was sent to the Finance Committee.
  2. 18-4330: Request to accept over $18 million in three HUD grants was sent to the Workforce Housing and Community Development Committee.
  3. 18-4541:  Request to set up a small business commission was sent to the Contract Compliance Committee.
  4. 18-4528:  All commissioners signed on this resolution opposing the reduction of air and water pollution standards in Wisconsin for the proposed Foxconn fabrication plant which will manufacture ICD glass panels and will require the drawing of massive amounts of water from Lake Michigan and the disposal of such into the Des Plains River with concerns about pollution and flooding.  Sent to the Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee.
  5. 18-4102:  Request to approve a ten-year cable franchise agreement with Comcast was sent to the Finance Committee.
  6. 18-4461: Request to create a Sheriff's operations state asset forfeiture and money laundering state asset forfeiture funds to allow the county to better track these funds was sent to the Finance Committee.
Items to watch for in the future:
  1. 18-4207: Requiring a fiscal impact note for pending legislation was deferred to allow more time for legal review.  Commissioners and the Administration both support but need more time.
  2. 18-2073:  Establishing a Consensus Revenue Forecasting Commission for Cook County was also deferred as it does not have the votes to pass at this time.

Observer - Diane Edmundson                             Length of Meeting - 2 hours
0 Comments

Public Testimony on Prevailing Wage Amendment Dominates Cook County Board Meeting

4/3/2018

0 Comments

 
Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting- March 14, 2018

Significant Topics Discussed:
  • There was over 3 ½ hours of public testimony regarding  the Property Tax Incentive – prevailing wage amendment.  The Board had passed a requirement that unless expressly waived by the County Board, any Employer occupying a property that receives a property tax incentive for Class 6b industrial property, Class 8 industrial property, or Class 9 multifamily residential property shall pay not less than the Living Wage.   The vast majority of those speaking were opposed to the requirement, yet were emphatic in stating that they were not opposed to unions nor to apprenticeship programs,  but did not think that this approach to pay equity was viable for regions that compete with other states. The Commissioners discussed the issue and voted 12-4 to delay implementation until September, 2018 but still passed the ordinance.  The Board plans to further study the ordinance for possible improvements.  (Agenda Item 18 – 1604)  
  • Only one item received significant discussion, the decision to defer Agenda Item 18 – 1277 which would give indemnification to Northwestern University for medical malpractice consequences. Northwestern has received a contract to provide mental health services for minors at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. The bulk of the discussion focused on who was at fault for not addressing the issue of indemnification in the original contract, the County or Northwestern.   It was voted to defer a decision until legal advice could be provided to the Board.  The fact that a decision had been made on February 7, 2018 to put the item on hold until legal language was cleared up, was not addressed.
  • There was brief, but pointed, discussion of Agenda Item 18 – 2379 that called for representatives from the State’s Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, the Chief Judge’s Office, and the Sheriff’s Office to appear before the  Criminal Justice Committee to investigate the issue of violent offenders being released on electronic monitoring.   There were two public witnesses from the Chicago Community Bond Fund who supported passage and gave evidence of Sheriff Dart’s delay in releasing  individuals on electronic monitoring for whom that had been mandated.  After the testimony of one of the representatives of the Bond Fund, President Preckwinkle stated that she hoped that the Fund would sue Sheriff Dart for his lack of compliance.  The matter was referred to the Criminal Justice Task Force for further consideration.

Significant Decisions Made:
  • All contracts were passed without discussion. 
  • Approved a collective bargaining agreement for the period of December 1, 2017 through November 30, 2020 between the County of Cook/Sheriff of Cook County and the Fraternal Order of Police for wage increases and healthcare.  Effective December 1, entry rate for all job classifications shall be reduced by 10%, and pay rates for all job classifications shall be frozen.  All bargaining unit members shall receive a $600 payment upon ratification of the agreement, and receive the same on June 1, 2018. Pay rates for all job classifications shall be increased by 2% June 1, 2019, and June 1, 2020. (Agenda Item 18-2440)I

Items to Watch in the Future:
  • Given the time constraints, most items were referred to committee for further study and later action.
  • A call  upon Washington D.C. and the State of Illinois to pass comprehensive gun control legislation  was referred to the Criminal Justice Committee. (Agenda item 18-2672)
  • Call to establish a foundation for the benefit of the Sheriff’s office of Cook County was referred to the Finance Committee.  The Foundation would focus on providing services and programming to individuals in the custody of the Cook County Department of Corrections and alternative sentencing programs and supporting additional policy initiatives within the Sheriff’s mandate. (Agenda Item 18-2671)
  • The results of further study  of the property tax  incentive – living wage amendment will be forthcoming (Agenda Item 18- 1604) 
  • A call on the Illinois General Assembly to create an Indiana border tax and regional economic development strategy was referred to the Legislative Committee. (Agenda Item 18-2648)
  • Legal counsel regarding the contract with Northwestern University and legal indemnification. (Agenda Item 18-1277)
  • Follow-up action from Criminal Justice Committee regarding study of electronic monitoring of violent offenders. (Agenda Item 18-2379)

​Other Observations: 
  • Since the bulk of the meeting was spent in hearing testimony from the public on the tax-incentive – living wage ordinance, all other items were grouped together and passed without discussion.  There were 24 contracts and contract amendments passed, 8 interagency agreements, and 6 reports, all received without comment or discussion.

​Observer – Sharon Welch
0 Comments

Unanimous Approval by Cook County Board for Union Contract with Sheriff's Employees

1/26/2018

0 Comments

 
Cook County Board of Commissioners Meetings - January 17, 2018

Meeting Length:
 Board Meeting 1.5 hours  
                     Board Committee Meetings embedded within, and preceding from 9:15 ending at 3:15pm

Commissioners Absent:  Butler 
Significant Decisions Made:
Board Meeting: 

  • Velisha Haddox of Human Resources announced a labor agreement with the majority of Cook County Sheriff employees’ union.  It involves a 2% increase in pay in the first two years with no increases in later years and a larger co-pay for healthcare by the employees. 
  • The Sheriff has not signed the agreement - his representative said management’s issue was over absenteeism, not over the economics of the union agreement. 
  • All the commissioners commended Velisha Haddox on a good job negotiating the contract and the agreement was approved unanimously, as their vote was purely on the economics of the contract.

Significant Topics Discussed

Finance Committee: 

  • Meeting with the Cook County Assessor was deferred as he did not attend.  
  • The Cook County Health and Hospital System (CCHHS) presented the methodology for accounts receivables collection.  Although there were $426 million in receivables for 2017, the real amount that is collectable is closer to $90 million.  There are 315 people in the Receivables department and 15 in Payables.   Commissioner Deere asked if they sent collectables out to a third party agency.  Commissioner Gainer suggested that CCHHS needed to be careful choosing the right collection agency to not over-squeeze the people who couldn’t pay.  

Business and Economic Development Committee: 

  • Mike Jasso, Chief of Economic Development Bureau is currently completely revising the tax incentive rules for Cook County so there  will no longer be a need in the future for the Board to vote on exceptions, waivers and amendments for tax incentives.  
  • Cook County needs uniform tax incentives to compete with the surrounding four lower cost counties.
  • Agenda Item Item 1799-77 suspends affidavits for two years while the county does a complete upgrade on tax incentives.  Industrial properties still must pay the Cook County living wage, but they need not submit the paperwork each year to prove it.  Retail and commercial spaces are not required to pay the living wage.


Homeland Security Committee:

  • Com. Schneider presiding,  will have the Court Utilization Study completed by May 2018.  There are 333 courtrooms in Cook County but there has been a 48.9% decline in usage, with Civil hearings down 34%, criminal hearings down, 57%.  Downsizing must occur in a rational, informed manner. 
  • There is a new Chief of Cook County Homeland Security, Bill Barnes.  This office and its operation appears well-funded by Federal grant monies for training, Narcan purchases, and personnel. 
  • Commissioners Suffredin and Sims want to make sure there is sufficient coordination with local agencies including the Forest Preserve, municipalities, and the Sheriff.

Other Observations: There were two public speakers in addition to George Blakemore. 

  • Mark Armstrong of the Fine Arts Council spoke about the need for easier to understand budget to present to citizens so they could better critique it. 
  • Val Zimnicki, Director of Outreach for Taxpayers United spoke at the Finance Committee about the need to reform Cook County pensions to address the $1.7Billion pension deficit for 22,000 Cook County workers, and stated that 80% of Cook County tax bills go to sustaining pensions.  He suggested one change in policy could be a switch to 401K programs for new hires at Cook County.

Observer – Amy Little
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Individual authors are credited at the end of each post.

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015

    Categories

    All
    ARPA Funds
    Assessor
    Ballot Referendum
    Board Of Review
    CCHHS
    Chief Judge
    Contracts
    Cook County Board
    Cook County Budget
    Cook County Health (CCH)
    Cook County Sheriff
    County Clerk
    Covid 19
    Criminal Justice
    Departmental Budget Hearings
    Economic Development
    Election Administration
    Environmental Control
    Equity Fund
    Ethics Ordinance
    Gun Violence
    Healthcare
    Independent Inspector General
    Paid Sick Leave
    Pensions
    Performance Based Management
    Police Matters
    Public Defender
    Recorder Of Deeds
    Shakman
    Soda Tax
    State's Attorney Office
    Taxes
    Tax Incentives
    Technology
    Transportation Plan

    RSS Feed

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF COOK COUNTY
332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 634
Chicago, IL 60604

312/939-5935 
[email protected]
Terms and Conditions of Use
© Copyright League of Women Voters of Cook County, Illinois. All rights reserved.
CONTACT US
  • Home
  • About
    • LWVCC Interest Groups >
      • Cook County Budget & Structure Group
      • Criminal Justice
      • Forest Preserve Interest Group
    • LWVCC Action and Testimony
    • LWVCC Activities
  • Observer Reports
    • Cook County Board Observer Reports
    • MWRD Board Observer Reports
    • Forest Preserve Board Observer Reports
    • CCH Board Observer Reports
  • Voter Info
  • Resources
    • Cook County Board
    • Forest Preserve Board
    • Cook County Elected Officials
    • MWRD Board
    • Cook County Health Board
    • Member Resources