2009 Cook County Budget is Approved

On February 20, 2009 at 2:23pm President Stroger called a Special Board Meeting to order to consider the Finance Committee Report dealing with the proposed 2009 Cook County Budget. The meeting was late in starting because the “Republicans were caucusing”. After the prayer and the pledge the meeting was recessed and another Special Board Meeting was called to order and recessed.

At 2:30pm. Comm. Daley called the Finance Committee meeting to order.
Comm. Silvestri made a motion to change the rules to allow for 48 hour notification for this meeting instead of 72 hour notification and he stated that this was allowed under Illinois law.
The agenda for this meeting included 3 items and the last item was withdrawn from consideration.
The first item re: Self Insurance Bonds was Received and Filed.
The remaining agenda item concerned the team for the Capital Improvement Bonds. Comm. Silvestri asked for clarification of the total amount that would be included in this transaction. With input from Bruce Washington, Director of Capital Planning, and Comptroller Morales it was determined to be $294m.
Comm. Collins wanted to know what would happen to the life safety projects that had been deferred with the expectation that there would be Homeland Security money to pay for them.
Comm. Suffredin stated that they had previously passed authorization for $740m in bonds and what they were being asked to consider now was the team. They did not need to limit the amount since the dollar amount was in the previous authorization. The Administration would have authorization to go get the bonds and then the board would have to appropriate the money.
President Stroger said he believed the ordinance had 3 different bonds with 3 different amounts.
Comm. Butler said they approved $740m in September and how it is distributed needs to come back to the board.
Comm. Quigley stated that “nobody knows what is going on here.
A motion was made to defer this item. Comm. Beavers stated that the motion to defer was “out of order” and Comm. Daley told him that it was not out of order and checked with the parliamentarian to be sure. A roll call vote was called for on the motion to defer. Yes – 11(Claypool, Collins, Gorman, Goslin, Maldonado, Murphy, Peraica, Quigley, Schneider, Silvestri, Suffredin) No – 4 (Beavers, Butler, Moreno, Steele) Present – 2 (Sims, Daley)
The meeting was adjourned and Comm. Daley stated that he would not call this back to the committee. This had come at the request of the administration.

At 3:07pm the Special Board Meeting was reconvened by President Stroger. The Finance Report for the meeting of February 20, 2009 was approved and the meeting was adjourned.

3:10pm – Special Board Meeting was reconvened by President Stroger. Comm. Daley submitted letters from the CC States Attorney, the Treasurer, and the Assessor expressing their concern with proposed budget cuts. He also submitted the Finance Committee report of meetings from Nov. 25, 2008 through February 10, 2009 with the Amended 2009 Budget for approval.
Comm. Suffredin asked Donna Dunnings, CFO, how many job changes are anticipated with the amended budget. She deferred to the Budget Director, Mr. Reinbold, who stated that the departments were being asked to work out their own budget changes. Mark Kilgallon, stated that the administration is working with the departments under the President to make the cuts without layoffs.
Comm. Peraica stated that he did not want to rehash the report from all the budget hearings.
Comm. Suffredin stated that now they have to figure out how to implement the report.
Comm. Peraica stated that they elected to have across the board cuts and not line cuts so now they vote on the floor is for accepting the report or not.
Comm. Quigley asked if this was the first time that a percentage cut had been given to the departments and how will this be done.
The Finance Department said that the departments will be able to reprioritize their budgets based on their cuts and they have about a week to do that and then they will be put into the budget book and it will be finalized.
Motion to accept the report. (14 – Ayes, 3 – Nays)
Motions were made to approve and adopt the budget with each fund being considered individually. For most funds the vote was 15 Ayes and 2 Nays (Butler and Quigley), but Comm. Collins left in the middle of the voting so for some it was 14 Ayes, 2 Nays, 1 Absent. After each fund was voted it was reconsidered immediately and voted again. Comm. Peraica also voted Nay on the Appendix A,B,C so that vote was (13Aye, 3 Nay and 1 Absent.
The Capital Improvement Budget – Mr. Driscoll told the commissioners that they have to have an appropriation by the end of the first quarter (March1) or they cannot expend any money this year for capital improvements.
The amount that they approved in their line item review of the Capital Budget is $294m.
The life safety projects are dependent on homeland security revenue that is an unknown amount at present.
Comm. Goslin reminded everyone that a budget is a spending plan – what actually gets spent depends on what happens during the year.
Roll call vote on the capital budget -Yes – 10(Claypool, Daley, Gorman, Goslin, Maldonado, Moreno, Sims, Steele, Suffredin, Silvestri) No – 5(Beavers, Butler, Peraica, Quigley, Schneider) Present – 1 (Murphy) Absent – 1 (Collins)

The meeting was adjourned at 4:20pm.

Cynthia Schilsky, LWVCC Observer

Cook County Board Meeting - February 18, 2009

The Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations Committee convened shortly after 9:30am in the Board Room. The agenda included three contracts for lobbyists to work on behalf of the county. Mr. Blada, the Coordinator of Intergovernmental Affairs, was present to answer questions, as were the 3 persons whose contracts were up for approval. One lobbyist will focus primarily on Medicare and Medicaide legislation. A representative from a new firm in Washington DC will focus on other federal issues such as transportation, as well as “combing the agencies” for possible funds for the county. Authorization for all 3 contracts was given after discussion of the need for the lobbyists and the scope of their work.

The committee also considered the appointment of Frank M. Zuccarelli to the Cook County Employee Appeals Board to fill a vacancy. This board serves as the final grievance appeals board for non-union management employees of the county. Questioning from the commissioners focused on Mr. Zuccarelli’s present position in the Recorder of Deeds Office and his position as Thornton Township Supervisor. He stated he would resign his position with the Recorder of Deeds as soon as he was appointed to the Appeals Board and that he intended to remain in his Supervisor position since that is a part-time position as is the Board of Appeals position. He stated that he did not see any conflict of interest problems stemming from his other positions. His appointment was approved by a vote of 9 commissioners in favor, 7 opposed, and 1 absent. The meeting was adjourned at 10:40am.

The Cook County Board Meeting was called to order at 10:45am by President Stroger. All members were present except for Comm. Moreno. After the usual opening procedures the commissioners all paid their respects to Mr. Robert Steele, father of Comm. Steele and husband of former board President Bobbi Steele.

At 11:25am Comm. Daley called the Finance Committee meeting to order. All items on the agenda were approved. Comm. Peraica did question the amount ($80,457.50) paid to Clifford Meacham, the Compliance Administrator for the Sheriff. He was appointed on October 30, 2008 and this is the first bill he has submitted – thus it is for several months and for several individuals. Mr. Driscoll from the States Attorney office stated that this is a court approved expense and really must be approved.
There also was a discussion of item 298636 re: New Penalties for politicians who fail to report campaign disclosures, a resolution submitted by Comm. Claypool and Quigley. Comm. Periaca asked if President Stroger had paid his penalties on his contributions from contractors. Comm. Beavers responded by asking if Comm. Peraica had paid his penalties. Comm. Peraica took offense at his remark and said he was being slandered. Comm. Beavers said, "Sue me"and Comm. Peraica said, "Be careful what you wish for". Comm. Beavers said the item did not belong on the agenda. Comm. Claypool spoke to the need for transparency of government and voted "yes". The motion carried. (9 Ayes, 2 Nays, 3 Presents, 3 absents)

Zoning and Building – All agenda items approved.

Roads and Bridges - All were about to vote "aye", but Comm. Suffredin declined based on the recent controversy concerning the county road signs, which was reversed by President Stroger at the previous meeting. He said the Board needed to examine contracts more closely, as he had thought that the monies were for repair of signs damaged by snow plows. Rupert Graham from the Dept. of Hwys. spoke to the issue, and said the signs were necessary for the identification of ownership of the roads in case of emergencies and repair. With this exception, the entire agenda was approved.

Observers left the meeting at 12:30pm.

Cynthia Schilsky and Beverly Graham, LWVCC Observers

Forest Preserve Commission Regular Meeting

At their February 5 meeting all Forest Preserve Commissioners except Forrest Claypool were present. The meeting started about a half hour late and there were numerous resolutions and photo-opps with the family of the late Commissioner Ted Lechovitz for whom a portion of the Forest Preserve has been named, and the Motorola Foundation and Friends of the Parks who performed good volunteer service in habitat restoration.

The main discussion at the meeting surrounded a Fox News report that had been aired a couple of days earlier. Commissioners questioned the Superintendent of the Forest Preserve and the Police Chief of the Forest Preserve about this report, which apparently showed many FP vehicles that were new but parked and not used. The Commissioners were concerned about the effect this would have on public perceptions. The Superintendent stated that there were mistakes made that kept assets (the cars) from being deployed in a timely fashion. He took responsibility for the problem and promised to return to the Commissioners with a written policy so that this could not happen again. The Commissioners also questioned the Police Chief about how he assigned cars. Both the Superintendent and the Police Chief agreed that some FP police are driving in old cars but that there is no safety issue involved.

After this the Commission retired so that the Finance Committee could meet. The Finance Committee is a Committee of the whole. They reviewed and approved a number of items but chose to delay a vote on the acquisition of more vehicles for the Forest Preserve Police. They want to hear the Superintendent provide the new written policy before that vote is taken.

Trying to Get Cook County Finances Under Control?

The February 4th, 2009, Cook County board meeting had all commissioners and the president present except for  Robert Steele.

In the continuing effort to determine if there is enough money in the general funds to pay last fiscal year's bills,  (additional court orders this month from last fiscal year of about $1,000,000), Controller Joe Morales indicated that so far there was.  This issue is a major concern since Pres. Stroger and many commissioners want to borrow money in the form of bonds to pay for  operating expenses in the next budget.  Other commissioners feel this is not appropriate and that the budget should be cut instead.

Commissioner Peraica expressed concern due to the Oak Forest Hospital land, owned by the county, that was never sold over the past three years, yet about a $30,000,000 projected sale had been included in last year's budget.  He also  stated that too many patient fees were not being collected through the hospitals for many millions of dollars in shortages.  This is part of the reason there is such a shortfall in income for the county.  Commissioner Quigley pointed out that not selling the land was a missed opportunity, since the land is probably worth much less now.  Director Ashcroft said the land was never worth that much and that she had said it could be sold for $10,000,000. 

 

Because of under funded liabilities in local pensions, a resolution was introduced by Commissioner Goslin for the Pension Board to investigate having new Cook County hires  increase their contributions for pension  and retiree health insurance.  The city of Chicago and Park District have already begun this process.  Since only the state government can finalize this, all 3 local governments need to be ready to present their ideas and findings.  Several commissioners wanted to delay this action by sending it to the finance committee (which is the same people as the board).  This is a new direction for the board, since 2-3 years ago when this was recommended, the board was against it.  It appears the poor financial situation in Cook County and  the economy in general is giving cost-cutting a new priority.

Commissioner Gorman questioned why a vendor who had the lowest bid for a contract was deemed non-responsive (and so lost the contract).  It turns out the company did not send a letter of intent.  About what, was not clear during the exchange between the compliance administrator and board member.  This issue has come up in several board meetings for various contracts.  The low bid vendor  is not guaranteed the contract due to various minority and female ownership compliance requirements.  How this is determined is not clear to the outside observer--me!

Chairman Suffredin announced that there were two purposes for this meeting. First, the nomination of Mr. Weinrock as administrative hearings officer was approved.
Secondly, a man reported on President Obama’s stimulus package, currently before the U. S. Senate , and specifically the concerns that will directly impact Cook County. There may possibly be money for trains and buses, neighborhoods, community block grants, law enforcement, tax credits, and Medicaid funding, and other areas Most of the money that comes to Illinois will go to general revenue funding., although everyone agreed that what came to Springfield would not get to Cook County.
Finally, three witnesses testified before the commissioners. Ms. Christine Boardman represented a union of Cook County workers. She was asked whether she would support job cuts, if necessary, or a reduction in salary for a large number of workers. She said that such questions must be voted on by the union membership. The second witness, Ms. Janice Benson, warned of a coming public health crisis when the newly unemployed and the newly uninsured would need services. Mr. Frank Borgers said we have one month to figure out our options, and recommended that union members reach out to others.

CCHHS Board Listens to Unhappy South Suburban Residents

Cook County Health & Hospitals System Board Meeting

January 30, 2009, 7:30 A.M., Stroger Hospital

In a conciliatory response to residents of south suburban Cook County who had voiced concerns at a Town Meeting the previous Saturday in Markham, and who came to the CCHHS Board meeting to speak, the Board Chairman moved the public comment from its usual position at the close of the meeting to the opening. Seven people spoke for their allotted three minutes each. They identified themselves as representing the National Nurses Organizing Committee, physicians in SEIU, Community Health Care Southland, and as employees, including a pediatrician. Their main concern was with cuts in service at Oak Forest Hospital without community input. They challenged the consultants' report on which decisions were made, most notably, consolidation of all surgical services at Stroger Hospital. Oak Forest hospital was once a long term care facility and more recently changed to an acute care facility to serve residents of the south parts of Cook County. They enumerated the difficulties this decision incurred for patients, e.g., the distance and transportation problems and the need for return visits to the Stroger pharmacy for medications. Also noted were the need for specialists at Oak Forest, the closing of a pain management clinic there and the loss of the trauma center at St. James Hospital.

In its regular business the Board discussed the progress of various committee work.

Human Resources is reviewing personnel policies and job descriptions for senior positions. Strategic Planning recognizes that their work is urgent so that tactical decisions are not made now that impact future choices, and that the planning process is open to staff and the community. "Quality" needs further definition and measures.

The current budget impasse was discussed and the impact of potential cuts on service. They noted possible federal $$ but acknowledged the risks in depending on them in budgeting. Commissioner Sims, whose district includes the south suburbs, spoke about the need for constituents to exert pressure on the County Board to solve the impasse. She suggested that those who came to speak to the CCHHS Board also attend the continuing session of the County Board Finance Committee on February 2 to express their concerns.

The Board carefully reviewed payments, bills, and proposed contracts.

They adjourned to executive session at 10:30 to consider employment contract issues.

--Submitted by Observer Nancy Staunton