Among the topics of concern was Workmen's Compensation. Comm. Schneider complained about the high costs for questionable injuries. Comms. Gainer, Steele and Schneider requested Lisa Walik, Dir. of Risk Management, to look into a revamping of the procedures of workmen's compensation settlements--perhaps as the city of Chicago has done.
The cost of incarcerating inmates at Cook County facilities was also mentioned. It costs $117.30 per detainee per day in Cook County and about half that cost to send detainees to other counties when Cook facilities are too full. Capacity at Cook County Jail is 9,838 and currently holds 9,548 inmates. More officers are being hired by the Sheriff's Dept. to address the high numbers and follow the Duran Court Decree. Comm. Gainer sponsored an ordinance (passed) to set a lower rate for health care reimbursement to health care facilities for inmates at the Cook County jail. This would now be at the Medicaid rate.
Comm. Peraica was concerned about the high costs of prosecuting and detaining drug abusers. He stated it was a systemic problem in the States Attorney and Sheriff's offices. There have been many civil rights lawsuits and judgments against the Sheriff's Dept. Comm. Gainer asked if there has been disciplining of the offending jail employees when this occurs. No clear answer was given by the Sheriff's representative.
Chief Financial Officer Jaye Williams gave a report on the budget process for 2011. She anticipates a $300 million shortfall due to the decreased rate in sales tax (which will be fully effective next year) and less money from patient fees at the Health and Hospital System (HHS). She will ask all agencies to reduce their budgets by 10% and evaluate overtime and professional development funds. In her revenue report, Comptroller Connie Kravitz stated there is a $16.8 million shortfall in collections of all revenue as of the first 7 months of the fiscal year. Collections of sales taxes were at a higher level than anticipated so far this year.
CFO Ayers of the HHS reported that Medicaid revenues were down, due to fewer Medicaid patients, the ending of federal DSH payments and possibly a change in the Medicaid formula. An exact explanation of why there are fewer Medicaid patients was not given. However, access to clinics and hospitals, lengthy admittance procedures and short (8am-4pm) hours were mentioned.
An ordinance was passed dealing with transition in the offices of the President and all other elected officials. One day after the November election, the newly elected officers shall have office space and all pertinent information, services and assistance to acquire a working knowledge of the budget, etc. before they take office December 1. It should be noted that an amendment to this ordinance was added late and the audience had no access to this. Only because one commissioner spoke about it, was this observer able to figure out the passed amendment.
A resolution calling on the General Assembly to remove the unnecessary provision that requires seniors in Cook County to reapply yearly for the senior citizen homeowner's tax exemption was passed.
This observer left the meeting, which was still ongoing, at 1:10pm.
