Finance Committee Approves Money to ImproveLibrary Services across the County and Gets Update on the Equity Fund

Cook County Board of Commissioner
Finance Committee
May 14, 2025

The Committee approved or voted to receive and file all items on the agenda.  Following are a few noteworthy items approved, followed by some information on the presentation on the Equity Fund, one of the County’s Special Purpose Funds.
The Committee approved:

• Providing $850,000 from the Equity Fund for the design and implementation of a County-supported, library-led Digital Navigator Network that will improve library services and create stronger connections among public libraries and County government.  There were several public speakers urging passage of this item 25-2339, stating it was particularly needed in light of the recent loss of federal funds to libraries.
• Creation of a new special purposed fund, the State’s Attorney Fraud Case Settlements Fund, for monies issued pursuant to governing statute from the investigation, prosecution and settlements of insurance fraud and other fraud cases.  (Item 25-2405.) Also provides for transfer of $602,607, which was collected in 2024 from these cases from the General Fund to this new special purpose fund to comply with the law.  In response to a question from Comm. Stamps, it was explained that the governing statute provides how the money may be spent, which is why the fund is being created so such expenditures can be more easily tracked.  As of the date of this meeting, the State’s Attorney’s office knows that at least an additional $2 M from 2025 will go into this new fund.
• $44.9 M in settlements. The largest amount is $24 M for a medical malpractice claim.  There are also 2 settlements for $7.45 M for alleged violations of civil rights against the State’s Attorney’s office.

President Preckwinkle’s Chief of Staff Lanetta Haynes Turner gave a presentation on the Equity Fund, which has a $68 M budget for expenditures in 2025 (Item 25-2781).  

• The Equity Fund has 3 purposes: (1) Address historic and continued disinvestment and resulting inequities that have negatively impacted Black, Latino/a/x and other marginalized residents; (2) fundamentally shift how County uses grantmaking; and (3) incorporate service providers, advocates, and residents in resource allocation.
• There are 3 sources of revenues for the Equity Fund:  (1) the Cannabis Tax, (2) the Firearm and Firearm Ammunition Tax, and (3) the County’s portion of the Illinois Gaming Casino Tax imposed by the State. 
• Monies from the Equity Fund are allocated to County departments, which in turn utilize established procurement and the sub-recipient process to seek Board approval for contracts or grants utilizing the Fund.
• As of the end of February, 3.4% (or $2.33 M) of the total $68 M budgeted has been allocated.  As the procurement process continues, it is expected that this will pick up. Departments are first using American Rescue Plan Act dollars, which can often be used for the same types of programs as the Equity Fund.
• One example of the use of the Equity Fund is the $850,000 approved by the Committee for the Digital Navigator Network (see Item 25-2339, described above).
• Avik Das, Executive Director of the Justice Advisory Council, discussed grants for community violence intervention, the wrap-around services for survivors of gun violence, the domestic violence intervention and support services, and the services to help for those leaving prison (“re-entry”) such as help with finding a place to stay and finding a job. 
• Jessica Caffrey, the head of the County’s Land Bank, talked about 3 initiatives using the Equity Fund: (1) the purchase of Fannie/Freddi/HUD REO properties at below market values to then resell; (2) assistance to qualified homebuyers of 6% up to $20,000 for the purchase; and (3) preservation to remove existing blight.
• Commissioners Degnen, Aguillar, and Sean Morrison all asked about performance metrics and return on investment for the programs funded by the Equity Fund.  Ms. Turner said that metrics can be difficult, but the proposals by recipients for grants identify what the funds would be used for, and the County does confirm that the monies are indeed spent that way.  
• Initiatives in 2025 include adding community representatives to the Equity Fund Taskforce and to do a pilot on participatory budgeting.
• Rather than a separate, formal report on the Equity Fund that was prepared after the first year, information on the Equity Fund is now being incorporated into the yearly Policy Roadmap and Equity Fund Progress Report.  The most recent one was issued in January of 2025.   Ms. Turner said that the use of the Equity Fund is so integrated with the Policy Roadmap that it makes sense to have a single report.  

League Observer:  Priscilla Mims