The Dec. 1 Cook County Board meeting began with Commissioner Daly calling the Finance Committee to order. Commissioner Peraica stated that the Shakman Decree is basically a corruption tax which is currently costing the taxpayers of Cook County five million dollars. Commissioner Silvestri raised the issue of the in-house desk audit versus the professional audit, and Commissioner Daly stated that no desk audit was required.
The committee then discussed the lawsuit filed against Superintendent Dr. Charles A. Flowers and the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education. Commissioner Peraica questioned the State’s Attorney’s representation of the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education in the case. He suggested that perhaps the Attorney General provide the counsel so that a conflict of interest will be averted. A roll call vote was taken to determine where each commissioner stood on this matter. Although four commissioners voted that the State’s Attorney should not provide legal services for the Regional Board of Education, the motion passed.
The necessity to reform Workman’s Compensation was discussed, including the complexity of union negotiations in distributing payments. Commissioner Gainer pointed out that the Board has an opportunity to deal with this issue in the very near future, as negotiations will be conducted soon. Another cost discussed was the repair of county vehicles and the methods of awarding contracts to fix them. It was concluded that more uniformity is needed with all of the vehicles. One way the county has reduced costs in repairing county vehicles is by conducting minor maintenance repair internally while sending major repairs out. The number of contracts to outside maintenance repair businesses has decreased since the county has adopted this more cost-efficient method of repairing its vehicles. Commissioner Gosling suggested reviewing the Vehicle Policy, of which he was an original creator.
When President Stroger arrived at 11:30, role was called again. Reverend Rand, a local pastor of the Methodist Church had the invocation, and a resolution for Commissioner Suffredin’s father was read. The commissioners expressed their condolences to Commissioner Suffredin on the recent passing of his father, formerly of Westchester, Illinois. The repeal of the sales tax was discussed. Each commissioner gave his/her opinion on the upcoming vote to override President Stroger’s veto of the Cook County sales tax reduction. Commissioner Daley stated that reducing the sales tax will ensure the rebooting of Cook County government. Commissioner Gainer stated that reducing the sales tax will force Cook County governmental officials to re-examine how they spend tax payers’ money. She cited that salaries in the county are particularly high in comparison to the pace and distribution of salary increases in the private sector. This is one place the county can make cuts. William Foley, CEO of Cook County Health and Hospitals System, stated that the Health and Hospitals System reduced their budget by 70 million dollars already.
For the first time in the history of Cook County government, the Board of Commissioners successfully overrode a President’s veto. With a vote of 12-5, the commissioners invalidated President Stroger’s veto of their tax repeal. Those who voted NOT to override President Stroger’s veto of reducing the Cook County sales tax are Commissioner Beavers, Butler, Murphy, Sims, and Moreno.