Plans for $338M in Capital Investments Outlined

Cook County 2016 Budget Hearings - Capital Budget    October 26, 2015

Ivan Samstein, Cook County CFO, presented an overview of the Capital Budget for the county including Capital Equipment and Capital Improvements. He explained that most of the projects included within this part of the budget are multi-year projects and the monies to pay for the expenditures for the various projects come from debt proceeds (meaning issuing of bonds or borrowing), grants, or pay as you go funds such as the Motor Fuel Tax. His slide presentation can be viewed by clicking FY16 Capital Budget Presentation.

The Proposed Capital Budget for 2016 is $338.8M in Total Capital Investments with $199M for Capital Improvements to county facilities, $74.7M in Capital Equipment, and $65.1M in Highway/Transportation projects for county maintained roads and bridges. In 2016 about 75% of the money for the projects will be from debt proceeds and about $80M will be pay as you go funds.

Phil Boothby, Director of Capital Planning, was asked to present the plans for the $199M for Capital Improvements in 2016. These expenditures are part of the 2016-2025 $1.4B program developed for the county for capital improvements. Facility assessments have been done on all properties and work has been prioritized. Expenditures in 2016 will include warehouse and print shop consolidation, Pedway improvements, board room improvements, demolition at the jail, and improvements at Stroger Hospital.

John Yonan, Superintendent of the Highway Dept., presented the plans for the $64M for highways. There is now a Long Range Transportation Plan for the county from now until 2040. He stated that prior to now there had been no plan for the past 70 years. As part of the plan within the next 4 years it is expected that all Motor Fuel Tax money will go into transportation cost and not be diverted into the general fund. He outlined several projects for 2016 that mostly involve pavement rehab and bridge repair throughout the county - highlighting work on Lake/Cook Rd. and Plainfield Rd. 

Tanya Anthoney, Budget Director, outlined the recommendation for Capital Equipment. She stated that each department submitted their requests, totaling $128m, and the proposed budget pared this down to include $74.7M for equipment - 83% of which is for IT projects.

Simona Rollinson, Chief Information Officer, then outlined the continuing efforts to modernize IT operations throughout the county. She said the negotiations with the departments were intense but she believes the $62M requested for IT in the budget will continue the progress that is being made. The countywide Time and Attendance system is intended to be implemented in 2016. She said that many of the projects are already authorized as part of the Enterprise Resource Planning Business Process which includes the Time and Attendance as well as HR and other functions.

After all these presentations only Comm. Sylvestri and Morrison had questions and both centered on whether, after significant and ongoing financial commitment, the county was becoming a modern technological entity capable of achieving efficiencies based on the investments being made. Ms. Rollinson stated that continued investment is necessary. Integrating the systems of the Sheriff and the Courts is still a process that will take continued investment over the next 4-5 years. She stated that the Time/Attendance technology will be the most tangible measure to be seen in 2016. Comm. Morrison requested an itemized list of the IT investments authorized by the board and she said she would provide it to him.

Comm. Daley ended the meaning by pointing out that this Capital Budget presentation and plan is a big change from previous years when Capital Equipment/Improvement was 1 line in the budget with no explanation or plan.

No mention was made of STAR performance measures and since capital costs run across all departments any measures may be integrated into the individual departments.

Further explanation of the Capital Budget can be found within the budget book. 

Submitted by Cynthia Schilsky, observer