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

Departmental Hearings Continue

11/9/2020

0 Comments

 
Finance Committee Meeting - Departmental Budget Hearings
November 5


Capital Budget: 
   

FY2021 Capital Budget  $517.1 million 
FY 2020 Capital Budget  $491.5 million
Difference - increase of $25.6 M 
$264.6 million for the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for County facilities; 
$152.2 million for Transportation & Highway Program (THP) for County maintained road, bridges, and highways; $100.3 million for Capital Equipment Program (CEP) for County departments.

Highlights of Presentation:
  • CFO Ammar Rizki explained the process for the creation of the Capital Budget.  They work with the departments to identify their requests.   Each project is evaluated to its relevance to the County’s Strategic Five-Year Plan, it’s life span, and how it will be financed.  Transportation projects are financed from the motor fuel tax, but most others are financed by debt (bonds).  They try to ensure funds are spread evenly over the various departments and offices.
  • The County currently has $3.4 billion in outstanding debt.   Bonds have investment grade ratings.   The debt is managed so that payments do not adversely affect the operating fund—debt payments and do not rise more than 2% a year which is the projection for sales tax increase.  There is also a $400 million debt service ceiling.
  • Construction projects focus on ADA requirements and extending the useful life of assets. They are working for county buildings to be carbon neutral by 2050.  They try to use in house trades for projects and tradesmen have been trained on solar panels.  As a result of Covid, they are looking at upgrading HVAC systems.
  • Automation projects must comply with county IT standards and the ability to integrate with other systems.  They also focus on systems that allow for resident engagement. Systems are being moved away from mainframes to reduce maintenance costs.  The county has implemented its own network phone system.    The County Clerk is implementing an asset tracking system for election gear.
  • A couple of commissioners noted that two years ago it was decided not to divert motor fuel tax to general projects and it is reserved for roads completely.   This has allowed for more road projects throughout the county.
  • $53 million in project requests were denied.  Because of Covid, they were conservative in estimating future tax revenues.
  • Commissioners commented on the ADA projects and expressed their importance to ensure residents can access county offices.

Clerk of the Circuit Court    

Proposed for 2021 Budget $120.471M                      Proposed FTEs for 2021 Budget - 1386
2020 Budget $ 123.646 M                                           FTEs in 2020 Budget - 1478.6
Difference - decrease of $3.175 M                            Difference - decrease of 92.6

Highlights of Presentation:
  • The savings in the budget is a result of the ongoing automation initiatives in the Clerk’s office.  The Civil Division of the court was added to the Case Management System in 2020.  The County and Criminal Divisions were already on it.  This eliminates data entry work.  It is also moving the office systems off the mainframe.
  • Volumes were down in the e-Filing system due to the Covid.
  • Overtime costs increased because it was mandated that comp time be included in that line. Clerk Brown has negotiated with the unions that staff are given comp time instead of overtime pay.
  • Office supplies went up significantly in 2021 (increase of $563,357) for PPE required for personnel who have to be in the office and courts in person.
  • There is some savings in computer supplies because there is less need of printing.
  • They have duplicated all electronic court documents in another state for disaster recovery purposes. 
  • There are several initiatives remaining on the automation—adding criminal subsequent filings to the Case Management Systems, extending the use of the traffic ticketing system to the Chicago Police Department, working to have the Illinois Supreme Court make the e-files the official record.
  • Commissioner Sylvestri asked about progress on the Shakman decree.  The judge required Clerk Brown to create a permanent employment plan which will be done by Nov. 19th.
  • There were questions about the transition to the new Clerk.   Clerk Brown said she is putting together a transition file for the new Clerk.

Observer: Kathi Graffam
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Individual authors are credited at the end of each post.

    Archives

    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
    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.
Membership Information
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