Cook County Commissioners Finance And Technology Committees
Joint Meeting on April 25, 2022

The special meeting was held at the urging of Commissioner Sean Morrison to bring the key stakeholders together to get their commitment to work together on getting the 2nd installment tax bills out no later than mid-November 2022.  Key were the chair of the Board of Review, the Chief of Staff of the Assessor’s Office, and the Chief Information Office, Bureau of Technology (BOT).  The County Clerk’s Chief of Staff and Treasurer also provided comments.

Board of Review (BOR):  Chair Larry Rogers stated he just received two days ago the remaining 70% of the required assessment information that his office needs to begin the appeal process for the 2021 assessments; that it will take his office 4-5 months at the earliest to process the appeals and get the information to the Clerk’s office to calculate the tax bill; which then goes to the Treasurer for printing, mailing, and collection.  Mr. Rogers stated that his office ran largely by paper until 2015 when it converted to a digital appeal processing system [not the Tyler Platform].  He emphasized that he ran a parallel paper system to work out problems before relying solely on the digital platform. The BOR is not on the new Tyler System. 

Assessor's Office (OA):  The Chief of Staff, Sarah Resnick, who stated that she takes full responsibility for steering the input of property assessment data to the new Tyler Platform, stopped the parallel input of underlying data such as square footage to the decades old Mainframe Platform in July of 2021 after finding that the transfer of detailed data was almost impossible between the systems causing many errors and re-inputs.  The Mainframe is the platform that the Board of Review has used for decades to obtain the needed information from the Assessor. The Chief of Staff contacted the BOR and the BOT to ask that they all work together to find a solution.  A successful interface was developed, but it is the reason for the delay; and it was done without the BOR. In the meantime, the underlying information was already on the Tyler system; and the interface was offered to the BOR in September of 2021.  However, it would require training of BOR technicians by the Assessor’s office; and the BOR declined, saying it has to be independent of the Assessor’s office. 

Bureau of Technology (BOT):  Tom Lynch was questioned as to his recommendation to run a parallel system between the new Tyler and the old Mainframe.  He said he did make the recommendation.  When asked if it was impossible to input the underlying data from Tyler to the Mainframe, he said it would be very difficult but not impossible.  He also stated that the BOR was not included in the transition to the Tyler Platform as were all the other Stakeholders because the BOR used a 2015 Platform that was modern.  He noted that not all systems can be replaced at the same time and that the best practice is to stagger rollouts.  He said the “legacy system” which is the mainframe has to be retired.  He also said that the interface is working.

Suggestions by Comm. Sean Morrison include: Increase Overtime; increase hearing staff; use retired staff on a contract basis; determine if an estimated tax bill for 2nd installment is possible. The Clerk’s Chief of Staff said that this is not a likely legal option but that he would investigate further.

Comm. Daley:  Asked Mr. Rogers if the vast majority of bills can go out and the remaining that have been appealed go out later.  Answer: No.  The BOR needs one finite set of data. He did state that it is a good idea to bring former employees back under contract.  However, with more help and more overtime, he does not believe that the five month delay in receiving the data can be made up. Daley also asked the Clerk’s chief of staff to contact the Finance Chief to see what can done to provide loans to small municipal taxing bodies if they are unable to get a bank loan.

Comm. Degnan:  Encouraged BOR to get off the legacy mainframe platform so that the current issue doesn’t perpetuate.

Comm. Lowry: Asked if all three Stakeholders agreed that the 2nd installment tax bills can be out in mid-November.  Answer:  Yes, it is possible; but no guarantee.  The Assessor’s office also stated that if it can get the information back from BOR in time, it can then meet the 2023 deadlines.

Comm. Britton: Asked if township assessors and assistant assessors could be trained to help the BOD process appeals.  Answer:  Would need the same system training as a new hire.

Several other Commissioners also commented or asked questions, all of which were duplicates of what is covered above.

​There were six Public Speakers Representing the Following Organizations: 
The Chicago Chamber of Commerce      Illinois Realtors local Government Affairs Office 
Western Spring’s Park District                Palos Fire Protection Force,
Scofield Fire Department                        Building Owners and Managers Association  
All were concerned about the delay in mailing the 2021 2nd Installment Tax Bills and its effect on their constituents and vulnerable Cook County homeowners. 

Observer:  Diane Edmundson

Cook County Board of Commissioners
Committee and Consent Agenda Meetings
January 15, 2020

During the Consent Agenda Meeting the Board honored the League of Women Voters in recognition of its 100th anniversary on February 14, 2020.  President Preckwinkle and Commissioners noted the many suggestions from the League over the years to improve the operations and transparency of the government, as well as the presence of League observers at most Cook County Board and Committee meetings.

The following actions by the Committees are subject to Board approval at the January 16 Board meeting:

• With the advent of legal sales and possession of cannabis in Illinois as of January 1, 
  • The Finance Committee passed a 3% retailer’s sales tax on gross receipts of sales of recreational cannabis.  Sales of cannabis for medicinal purposes are excluded.  Tax (which is on top of the normal sales tax) to be effective July 1, 2020.  Commissioner Suffredin noted that, based on the experience in other states that have legalized cannabis, the County can expect an increase in emergency room visits and in having to deal with more driving while under the influence cases, adding costs to the County’s health and public safety functions.  Thus, the 3% tax is more than justified.  Because the State collects the tax and then remits to the County, the County does not expect to receive any revenues until September or October.  Item 20-0658.
  • The Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee passed a proposal to create a Cook County Cannabis Commission to analyze the impact of recreational and medicinal cannabis industries within unincorporated Cook County.  Commissioner Lowry will be the chair.  Item 20-0763.
• The Health & Hospitals Committee passed a resolution for: 
  • (1) the Chair of the Independent Cook County Health (CCH) Board to meet with the Cook County President and Board to solicit input regarding the responsibilities, background, and attributes to consider with respect to recruiting and appointing a new CCH Chief Executive Officer, which will be done at a public meeting in the Board room within 30 days; 
  • (2) the Cook County Board to have “listening sessions” at several locations around the County so that the public can provide input; 
  • (3) the Cook County Auditor, with the assistance from professional auditing firms experienced in health care, to conduct a management audit of CCH; and
  • (4) such audit to be completed by July 1, 2020, so that its recommendations can be considered for the 2021 budget.  Item 20-0789.
• The Business and Economic Development Committee passed a Substitute Amendment to the Real Estate Tax Incentive Program to waive the relatively new requirement that business receiving the incentive file annual affidavits of compliance.  Previously, the requirement was that such affidavits be filed every 3 years.  With the change, there had been a marked decrease in new businesses seeking the incentive.  The waiver is in place until 2022.  Several people spoke in support during public comments.  Item 20-0768.
• This Committee also passed a resolution supporting a review of the small business and entrepreneur ecosystem in Cook County by an independent expert.  Item 20-0678

Observer - Priscilla Mims

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting
December 19, 2019

The Board devoted the first 2 hours of their meeting to the honoring of retiring employee Martha Martinez, former Commissioner Jerry Butler, and the late Reverend Clay Evans. Testimonials lauded Martinez for thirty-four years of exemplary service.  Former Commissioner Jerry Butler received a touching tribute from the Board. HIs career as a popular vocal artist and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was noted. Commissioner Butler sang one of his hits, “Let It Be Me” to the delight of all present. The late Reverend Clay Evans was honored as an icon of the black community and for his work on civil rights with Dr. Martin Luther King.

Action Items:

• Agenda Item 20-0016- The proposed amendment to the Inspector General ordinance regarding reports and public statements was referred to the legislative committee. It requires that the IG share a statement with the head of the affected department and not issue a public statement for ten days. If the department has a response, this must be attached to the public statement. The Civic Federation supported  this amendment during the public comment period.
• Agenda Item 20-0735- The Board unanimously passed a resolution supporting federal universal background checks for firearms. It is hoped that this will add pressure for passage of gun control legislation in Washington.
• Agenda Item 20-0721- The Board unanimously passed a resolution to support refugee resettlement efforts in Cook County. Several agencies testified to the challenge of working under current punitive federal policy.
• Agenda Item 20-0437- Approved an intergovernmental agreement between the pension fund and Cook County. In 2016 the pension was 54% funded. $306.2 million will be contributed for 2020. This infusion of funds has now raised the percentage funded to 68%, one of the highest in the state.
• Agenda Item 20-0732 - Changes in committee chairmanships were approved. These new assignments will give greater responsibility to the newer members of the Board.
• Agenda Item 20-0658 - Proposed tax on cannabis was referred to the finance committee.
• Agenda Item 20-1831- Board approved a commission chaired by Britton to create a new design for the county flag. The deadline is 2021 when the county celebrates its 190th anniversary. High school students will be asked to submit designs in a competition.
• Agenda Item 20-0726 - Board approved a resolution to support Cook County Health’s construction of a new Provident Hospital. It also provides for the Cook County Board Health & Hospital Committee to hold a hearing to receive an update on the project.
• Agenda Item 20-0712 - Board approved a resolution to discuss the Cook County Health Formulary Program. The resolution describes how insurance companies use “step therapy” in an effort to control drug costs. Step therapy is when patients first try the less costly drugs to see if they work. This can delay patients getting the treatment they need.
• Agenda Item 20-0011 - Proposed ordinance regarding zoning for recreational cannabis was referred to committee.
• Agenda Item 20-0579- Board approved authority for Public Defender to accept $500,000 grant to aid data analytics.

Commissioners Daley, Deer, Suffredin, Arroyo, Sylvestri, Gainer and Moore thanked Dr. Shannon (CCH) for his service to Cook County Health. Dr. Shannon was present and acknowledged their kind words. 

Observer - Georgia Gebhardt               Meeting Length: 3 hours, 20 minutes (includes 40 minute lunch break)