Cook County Board Authorizes Video Gaming in Unincorporated Cook County

Cook County Board of Commissioners Board and Committee Meetings - June 6, 2018

Significant Decisions:

• With little discussion, the Board approved video gaming in unincorporated Cook County (Item 18-3799), as recommended by the Finance Committee at a meeting and hearing held the prior day.  Commissioner Gainer voted no, while Commissioners Fritchey, Silvestri, Sims, and Suffredin voted present.  Commissioner Daley was absent.  At the prior day’s meeting/hearing, several business people had testified that allowing such gaming would put them on par with similar businesses in adjoining Cook County municipalities, the majority of which have adopted laws authorizing such gaming.  It will also bring in some additional revenues for the County.  Commissioner Schneider led the effort to craft this ordinance.
• With no discussion at either the Finance Committee meeting that day or the Board meeting, the Board accepted the 2017 Performance Based Budgeting Annual Report (Item 18-3151).  The League testified at the Finance Committee meeting and submitted written comments which expressed disappointment with the measures and targets in the report, arguing that few actually measure performance.  As a result, the program is doing little to encourage improvement in performance in Cook County departments.  None of the Commissioners chose to inquire about the value of the measures in the Report.

Significant Topics Discussed:

• In connection with approving several contracts presented by the Sheriff’s Office, Commissioner Tobolski raised the issue with the County doing business with companies located outside of not only Cook County, but outside of Illinois.  The Commissioner complained that sales taxes paid for goods supplied from such vendors is going to other states and localities.  He stated that one of his goals is to streamline the County’s process for becoming an approved vendor.  Commissioners Deere, Gainer, and Moore also raised concerns.  Commissioner Moore said he would like a report which shows the dollars that the County pays vendors from outside of the state vs. the dollars paid to Illinois vendors.
• Comptroller’s Report through April 30:  Looking at revenues less expenditures, both the General and Health Funds have favorable balances of $41 million and $2 million, respectively.
• Commissioner Fritchey noted that this was the last meeting of the outgoing Chief Information Officer, Simona Rollinson, who was praised by Commissioners for making major improvements to the workings of the County through several major software programs that have been brought online during her tenure.

Items to Watch for:

• Again deferred in the Finance Committee was the proposed ordinance (18-2073) to establish a Consensus Revenue Forecasting Commission, which is sponsored by Commissioners Boykin, Garcia, and Suffredin.  (See the Eyewitness Report for the May 16 Board and Finance Committee meetings for more information.)

Observer - Priscilla Mims