Cook County Board to Hold June 5 Hearing on Inspector General Report on Hospital System

Cook County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee and Board Meeting  
May 16, 2018 

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING 
​Public Speaker at the meeting - Mike Belsky, Executive Director Center for Municipal Finance, Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago, spoke in favor of the ordinance to establish a Consensus Revenue Forecasting Commission for Cook County.

Significant Topics Discussed
1. Cook County Health and Hospitals (CCHHS) Quarterly Report was presented and filed.

• Commissioner Daley announced that there would be a Special Hearing on June 5, 2018, 9:00 am to discuss the issues presented in the Inspector General’s Report, and failure to bill properly.  
• Commissioners are deferring questions to this meeting.
• Chairman of the CCHHS Board, all CCHHS Board Members and the Cook County Financial Team including the CFO of Cook County have been invited to attend.  
• There was discussion as to whether to include a representative such as a Union member to represent employees at this hearing. This could cause the meeting to go to Executive Session. It was decided that the purpose of this Special Hearing was to discuss the issues in the Inspector General’s Report and if employee issues arise a separate meeting would be organized to deal with employees

2.  A Resolution establishing a foundation for the benefit of the sheriff’s Office of Cook County was passed. 

• A not-for-profit Foundation to be created to accept charitable contributions either financial or gifts in kind to support the missions of the Sheriff’s Office. 
• Gifts will be used to improve the life of those incarcerated and those who are being released.
• Example of gift in kind, The Dr. Willie Wilson Foundation donated Feminine Hygiene products to the CC Sheriffs office to be donated to detainees and those recently released from jail.

3. An Ordinance to establish a Consensus Revenue Forecasting Commission for Cook County, which was deferred to the next meeting or later for further study. (Garcia, Boykin, Suffredin)

• The Commission will be responsible for evaluating and forecasting revenue including but not limited to Sale Taxes, Property Taxes, Cigarette Taxes, Fuel Taxes and other sources of County Revenue.
• The forecast will be completed by September 15 of each fiscal year and will be updated quarterly
• Commission will have seven members appointed by the County Board President and confirmed by the Cook county Board to include Chairman of the Business & Economic Development, Chairman of the Pension Committee, Chairman of the finance Committee, the CFO of Cook county, an economist working at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, an academic economist working at the university in Cook County, and one member of the public with expertise in public finance. This will be a 3-year term. 
• Pros, when you can forecast   the revenues it is easier to create a budget and shortfalls could be determined earlier.   This will provide for a more open and transparent budget process.
• Cons, Commissioners believe this is already done and do not need a separate Commission. Budget process should begin earlier for there to be more time to question the budget.  

COOK COUNTY BOARD MEETING

Highlights from the meeting:
1. Ordinance Amendment increasing fines for Public Morals Violations - referred to Criminal Justice Committee.  

• This ordinance would increase the fines for public nuisance issues such as public urination and public drinking.
• It also added Community Service for those who could not pay the fines

2. Proposed Ordinance Amendment authorizing Video Gaming in Unincorporated Cook County - referred to the Finance Committee.

Committee Items Requiring Board Action

• Resolution creating Cook County Prevailing Wage Advisory Task Force passed with no discussion or public comment on this issue
• Resolution creating a Funeral and Cemetery Violence Task Force passed. This creates a task force to deal with the violence that occurs with Gang related funerals. 

Items to Watch for in the Future

• Special Hearing June 5 for CCHHS and the Inspector General Report
• Ordinance to establish a Consensus Revenue Forecast Commission. This was deferred for more study. Look for this in the near future possibly in June.

Observer: Nancy Marcus                                                                  Length of meeting -  5 hours with a lunch break