Proposed 2015 Cook County Executive Budget Overview, October 9, 2014

On Thursday, October 9, 2014, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle presented to the Cook County Board her Executive (proposed) budget for the 2015 fiscal year that begins December 1, 2014.  The Board immediately referred the Executive Budget to the Board’s Finance Committee (which is composed of all 17 Commissioners and chaired by Commissioner John Daley), which begins meeting with departments to review their individual budgets on October 16.  Hearings where the public can provide comments will be held on:

Friday, October 17, 9 am in the Cook County Board Room

Tues., Oct. 21, 6:30 pm at Markham courthouse

Thurs., Oct. 23, 6:30 pm in Maybrook courthouse

Mon., Oct. 27, 6:30 pm in Skokie courthouse

Chairman Daley indicated that while the budget meetings with departments should be completed no later than October 29, the votes to amend and approve the budget will probably not take place until mid-November.

In addition to attending the presentation by President Preckwinkle, the League obtained the 3 volumes of the Executive Budget.  (These volumes are available on the County’s web site at www.cookcountyil.gov.)  Following are some of the key points from the President’s address, as well as from the review of the budget books.

I.              No new taxes, fees, fines, or layoffs are proposed

II.            Budget increased from $3.54 billion in 2014 to almost $4 billion in 2015 (increase of $463 million); total FTEs increased by only 27

III.           Most of increase due to increase in Cook County Health & Hospitals System (HHS) budget as a result of Affordable Care Act (which resulted in significant new revenues, as well as expenditures to treat people now covered by insurance); total HHS budget is now $1.5 billion

A.            Actual subsidy from County to HHS is down slightly (by $11 million) to $164 million

B.            Currently 92,000 under County Care

C.           With expansion of County Care to include children and seniors covered by Medicare, expect 150,000 by end of 2015

D.           For first time in history, more patients covered by insurance than uninsured

IV.          8800 average daily jail population for most of 2014 vs. close to 10,000 during much of 2013; goal by next year to have average of 7500 in jail

A.            Reduction began in Sept. 2013 around time Preckwinkle wrote IL Supreme Court seeking reforms in County judicial system, particularly pre-trial services

B.            Since then, electric monitoring up and more accused getting reduced bail or released on own reconnaissance

C.           Only 7% of those in jail serving sentences; rest awaiting trial

D.           70% in jail accused of non-violent crimes

E.            Large # of cases dropped when crime is small amounts of controlled substances; but those arrested on this charge serve an average of 2 to 3 weeks

F.            Preckwinkle says now is time to instead of getting “tough on crime” to get “smart on crime”

G.           Will only see savings for County when jail population has a sustained reduction allowing for closing of wings and reduced overtime and personnel

V.            Expect additional revenues from State as a result of the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center expected to finally be coming out from under Federal Court supervision to oversight by Chief Judge by end of 2014

VI.          Pension reform for the County approved by Senate but not by House; hope House will deal with in veto session

VII.         Proposed new Bureau of Asset Management to realize revenues and savings by overseeing all properties owned and leased by County

-- submitted by Priscilla Mims


Updated 10/21/14 to correct the difference between last year's and this year's budget.