Thursday, November 5, 2015

Improving on Technology Front, But County Still Has a Ways to Go

2016 Cook County Proposed Budget:  Bureau of Technology and Board of Commissioners, Oct.27, 2015

Bureau of Technology
Simona Rollinson, the Chief Information Officer (CIO), explained that the Bureau is moving away from customized solutions to looking at commercial, off-the-shelf solutions which are more reliable and take far less time to implement.  In addition, they are looking at multi-phase development for incremental change.  She heard many complaints that in the past the Bureau would spend years working on a new system, only to find that when it was ready to be implemented, it was out of date. 

This new approach requires special skills, which is why 1/3 of the Bureau are either new hires or new promotions.  While the number of employees is down, the total salaries are up for 2016, reflecting what is needed to both hire and retain employees with the necessary skills.  There were several questions by Commissioners about some of the salaries, and the CIO was to get back to them. 

Ms. Rollinson cited a number of accomplishments in 2015, including the awarding of contracts for the “Big 4” new systems:  the Integrated Property System, the Integrated Revenue System, the Integrated Justice System, and the County-wide Enterprise Resource Planning System. Implementation will begin in 2016.

For many years the Commissioners have expressed concern over the separate systems in each of the different elected officials’ offices.  Ms. Rollinson said that 2015 saw the rollout of the new process whereby any new contract for technology anywhere in the County must first obtain the concurrence of the CIO.  This should reduce duplication and encourage collaboration, even though technology personnel still remain in each of the separately elected officials’ offices.  Several Commissioners stated they were willing to help encourage the elected officials to cooperate with the Bureau as needed.  Chairman Daley said one way the Board can help is to not authorize money for individual systems unless a department is cooperating.

Commissioner Schneider said that in the past the Board has authorized many dollars to be spent on technology with the expectation that this would result in a reduction in personnel.  But this has not happened in most cases.  The CIO stated that she thinks that the new Time and Attendance system being implemented will show results. But she also said that the question about technology improvements and employee count needed to be directed to individual departments.

Commissioner Boykin asked how the CIO would grade the County in terms of technology.  The CIO said that it was moving toward being comparable to other counties of its size, but that means that more improvement is necessary.  Commissioner Tobolski asked whether the County would be able to implement the Chicago Mayor’s proposal in Springfield which would exempt properties less than $250,000 from the new increase in property taxes just approved in the city (or provide rebates).  The CIO stated that the County had just received the bill the prior Monday and were evaluating what would be required.  Commissioner Steele offered to connect the Bureau with the Seattle Assessor’s office which has utilized its Geographic Information System (GIS) to grow economic development and which has a wonderful integrated property system. 

Board of Commissioners
The Secretary to the Board, Matthew DeLeon, presented the budget for the Board, which includes the Secretary’s budget.  Overall, the total budget is up $203,000, or 2.7%, most of that for salary increases for staff (the Commissioners’ salaries are set by ordinance, and have not been raised in many years).  There was some discussion about the fact that several years ago all the Commissioners’ budgets were equal, but that is no longer the case. Commissioner Boykin stated that his office is not implementing any new salary increases out of concern for the impact on the poor and seniors as a result of the sales tax increase.  Commissioner Schneider made the point that he has never utilized his entire approved budget, in effect giving back money to the County each year.  Commissioner Sims suggested money could be saved if there was a central office supply purchasing plan, rather than each office purchasing its own supplies.

Commissioner Schneider asked about the reference in the Capital Budget for changes to the Board Room. Mr. DeLeon explained that the goal is to make the Room accessible for the public, the Commissioners, and the County staff, which it clearly is not now.  The 2016 Capital Budget contains money to start on this.  Commissioner Tobolski asked why they can’t go ahead and purchase a couple large television screens to project agendas and presentations.  After Mr. DeLeon stated some issues that had to be considered first, Mr. Tobolski (jokingly?) offered to purchase them himself.

Several Commissioners complained about the salary increased in other County departments, in contrast to their own salaries.  Chairman Daley reminded them that they have the power to increase the salaries for Commissioners, but that any increase would not take place until after the next election for Commissioners, in 2018. 

Commissioner Sims expressed concern over speakers who utilize the public comment time to make derogatory comments and/or fail to stick to a subject on the agenda for a Board or Committee meeting.  Mr. DeLeon stated that per the State’s Attorney General, a public comment time must be offered to all, but that the chair does have the authority to regulate the speaker should the speaker go off topic. 

-- Priscilla Mims, League Observer

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