No Lock-Step Votes as Board Approves 2016 $4.5 Billion Budget as Amended

2016 Cook County Proposed Budget:  Finance Committee and Board Meetings, Nov. 18, 2015

President Preckwinkle was successful in getting the votes to approve all Amendments to the Executive Budget she supported during the Finance Committee meeting and then in winning approval of both the new revenues and overall spending plan for the $4.5 billion budget at the Board Meeting. One of the interesting aspects of the November 13 Finance Committee meeting, which dealt with the additional revenue sources for the 2016 budget, and the November 18 meeting of the Finance Committee to deal with proposed Amendments to the Budget, was that there were different Commissioners voting for and against the differing proposals.  The same held true during the Board meeting in which the related budget proposals were passed.  In past years, it was common to see the same Commissioners voting together. 

Voting yes to approve the entire budget, as amended, were Commissioners Arroyo, Boykin, Butler, Daley, Gainer, Garcia, Moore, Murphy, Silvestri, Sims, Steele, and Tobolski.  Voting no were Commissioners Fritchey, Goslin, Morrison, Schneider, and Suffredin.  Commissioners Fritchey, Schneider, and Suffredin stated that their opposition was largely based on the tax increases used to support the spending plan, especially the sales tax and hotel tax.

In addition, the following Commissioners voted in opposition to one or more of the other Administration-supported budget-related proposals: Gainer, Murphy, Silvestri, and Tobolski.  Also, Commissioners Boykin, Daley, Fritchey, Goslin, Schneider, and Sims voted against (with Commissioner Suffredin voting present) the two proposals to increase Clerk of the Court fees.

Amendments Delay COLA Increase for Non-Union Employees and Increase Money for Chief Judge’s Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program

The Finance Committee considered 24 proposed amendments to the budget, approving 12 and voting down 4, with 8 withdrawn by sponsors after discussions.  Most of the Amendments approved were non-controversial corrections.  All Commissioners also supported the partial restoration of money for the Chief Judge’s Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program to bring the program up to 60% of the 2015 budget, utilizing additional monies from the Adult Probation Service Fee and the Social Service/Probation and Court Service Fees. 

However, there was much discussion about the proposal to delay until June 1, 2016, the previously approved cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of 2% for non-union County employees that had been scheduled to be effective on December 1, 2015.  The Chief of Staff for the State’s Attorney’s Office  talked about the disparate impact this delay would have on that office that has one of the largest number of non-union employees:  the office is 3% of the budget, but its employees will bear 22% of the total cost savings through the delay in salary increase.  Another complaint was that this Amendment, like all the others, was posted on the County’s web site less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled start of the meeting.  Nevertheless, the Amendment passed by a vote of 14-3, with Commissioners Fritchey, Murphy, and Suffredin voting no. 

Commissioner Fritchey ended up withdrawing 3 proposed amendments which offered an across the board cut of 1% in lieu of the hotel tax and ticket re-sellers’ tax, knowing that the votes weren’t there to pass them.  Also withdrawn was a proposal to add $500,000 for restorative justice for grants from the Justice Advisory Council.  The head of that Council spoke against the proposal saying that it preferred to first see whether the existing grants were producing positive results before giving out more money. 

One Amendment that failed to pass was sponsored by Commissioners Arroyo and Suffredin which would have eliminated 9 positions from  the Clerk of the Court’s Inspector General department in favor of adding 11 Asst. State’s Attorney positions.  Comm. Arroyo stated that based on what the Clerk of the Court had said the duties of the Inspector General’s department in her office were (to investigate complaints of fraud and abuse in that office), the Commissioner believes these positions are redundant to the duties of the State’s Attorney.  Another Commissioner wondered why the Clerk of the Court didn’t just use the County’s Inspector General.  However, the Clerk of the Court’s Chief of Staff said that its employees in the Inspector General’s department also had to transfer evidence, such as bags of heroin, to and from court, and transfer large sums of money around, which you wouldn’t want the average employee in the Clerk’s office to do.  Commissioners Daley, Fritchey, Gainer, Garcia, and Tobolski joined with Commissioners Arroyo and Suffredin, but the Amendment failed with 10 Commissioners voting against. 

Also failing was an Amendment sponsored by Commissioner Steele to add 3 investigative positions to the Public Defender’s office by increasing the turnover adjustment for that department.  Commissioners Arroyo, Fritchey, Moore, Murphy, and Suffredin joined Steele in supporting, but 10 other Commissioners voted no.

The Finance Committee and Board meetings to deal with the budget began at 2 pm, after all the regularly scheduled committee and Board meetings that day.  These budget meetings ended at about 6:20 pm. 

-- Submitted by Priscilla Mims, League Observer

Commissioners question Cook County's salary increases while raising taxes and fees

Cook County Committee & Board of Commissioners’ Meeting Wednesday, October 28, 2015

The Board meeting was called to order at 11:15 a.m. but the actual conduct of business started at 1:50 and ended at 2:50.  This writer found the meeting process one of the most confusing observed.  Perhaps it had something to do with the number of budget hearings that Commissioners attended in the days prior to the formal Board Meeting and the inability to get the morning Committee meetings concluded on time.

Major Discussions/Decisions of Note are: 

1. Resolution #15-4297 passed out of the Finance Committee and was approved by the full Board.  It is a contract with Blue Cross and Blue Shield for $884,195,500 over a 3 year period ending in 2018. This covers 22,000 employees and 33,000 dependent lives and includes all Cook County government employees, the Forest Preserve, and the Housing Authority.  By the end of the contract, employees in total will pay for approximately 10% of the total cost of insurance.  Currently the Health and Hospital Systems employees are included in the county’s PPO network but not the HMO.  They are negotiating for the HMO [in competition with HHS’s County Care]. 
2. Resolution #15-5145 changing the Medical Examiner Ordinance, passed out of the Finance Committee and was approved by the full Board.  In addition to language updates [dropped the anachronistic Office of the Coroner reference], it gave authority to the new Medical Examiner to enter into cooperative agreements with other agencies having laboratory facilities without going to the Board for permission, and changed the accounting method for the fee fund.  The Board did ask for an email notice when entering into agreements.
3. Resolution #15-6190, proposed by Commissioner Fritchey, was sent to the Finance Committee.  The resolution calls for a county-wide referendum to abolish the office of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds.  The CC League of Women Voters spoke in favor of sending the resolution to committee to give the public time to review and comment.  We will closely follow this resolution. 
4. Resolution #15-5847, authorizing the Sheriff’s office to appoint a Cook County Gun Violence Coordinator was passed out of the Criminal Justice Committee and approved by the Board.  

Other Board Business

1. The CFO of HHS reported that as of the end of the 3^rd Q, HHS has $14 million budgeted surplus.  It is waiting for a $100,000 million Federal and State pass through from the State. 
2. County Clerk David Orr asked for and received a transfer of funds to purchase electronic pollbook computer equipment to serve precincts larger than 1,000 registered voters. 
3.  State's Attorney, Anita Alvarez, received approval to renew a grant for 2 staff members to work on a uniform bond court screening process thereby allowing for diversion into treatment courts and decreasing the time offenders spend in custody. 
4. Alvarez also received a 3-year $900,000 Federal grant to strengthen the response to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking who are enrolled in colleges located in Cook County including Chicago. 

Public Speakers and Consent Calendar Highlights: 

1. The Board saluted two Chicago officers that save a baby’s life by foregoing protocol and driving the infant directly to the hospital rather than waiting for an ambulance. 
2. The Rev. Jesse Jackson was honored on his 74^th birthday for his civil rights and community work. 
3. Representatives of the Black Funeral Directors Association requested a reconsideration of the ordinance authorizing a charge of $500 to Funeral Homes that pick up deceased individuals and deliver them to the County Morgue because families cannot pay the funeral home for a burial and the funeral home is not legally able to store bodies.  It was noted that the storage fee was imposed to discourage use of the Medical Examiner’s office which has limited capacity.  Commissioners Boykin and Steele promised to continue to find a solution for the Funeral Directors as they are caught in the middle.  One suggestion is that the family can gift the body to the Anatomical Society and bypass the ME’s office.  Another:  When the individual dies at home, rather than calling a Funeral Director, call the police to pick up the body and deliver it to the morgue.

Finally, there was much discussion on the number of higher than expected salary increase percentages for several individuals and departments.  Several Commissioners asked the HR Department to prepare a list of those employees receiving a salary increase higher than the standard 6.5% combination of cola and step.  It was noted that two individuals received $31,000 and $36,000 respectively and among three individuals the raises totaled more than $200,000. The point was raised because of the recent Sales Tax increase and the proposed increase to the Amusement Tax.

Submitted by:  Diane Edmundson, Observer

Reviewed by:   Laurie Morse, Observer

Opposition to Tax on Cable TV and E-Cigarettes; $2 Million for Restorative Justice; Tax on Corporations Paying Less than Living Wage; and Lost Animals Raised at Public Meeting

2016 Cook County Proposed Budget:  Public Hearing at the County Building, November 3, 2015

Lawrence Msall, on behalf of the Civic Federation, after complimenting the County government for the actions taken with regard to criminal justice reform, health care, and rationalizing the workforce, said that with regret, the Civic Federation could not support the proposed budget. The opposition was mainly to the 1% increase in the sales tax that the Board had approved this summer, and on which this budget is based.  The Civic Federation cited the competitive disadvantage the Board was creating for the many businesses in Cook County, particularly those on the County’s borders. 

However, in response to a question by Commissioner Suffredin, the Civic Federation thinks the $30 million in additional taxes and fees that are part of this budget proposal are reasonable.  This was clearly not what the Commissioner wanted to hear, as he expressed his concerns about these revenue proposals.   Subsequently, the Chamber of Commerce expressed its opposition to extending the amusement tax to (or rather eliminating the current exemption for) cable television.  There were several other speakers similarly expressing opposition, as well as one speaker in favor.  Chairman Daley stated that in talking with the individual Commissioners, it seemed unlikely that the Board would pass the expansion of the amusement tax, so the Commissioners will have to come up with proposals to cover the $18 million projected from this tax, either through other new revenues or through cost cuts.

Several speakers also voiced opposition to the proposed tax on E-cigarettes. 

Several speakers called on the Board to increase the $500,000 for restorative justice programs in the budget to at least $2 million. The dialogue between a couple of the Commissioners and one of the speakers got a little heated at one point, as the Commissioners explained that they supported more money for restorative justice programs, but also were faced with trying to balance the budget.  The speaker argued that if the County would stop spending so much on the jail, it could fund restorative justice, which would do much to reduce the jail population.  Commissioners pointed out that they have a responsibility to see that there is sufficient money for the jail in order to protect the public from those committing crimes.

Several speakers spoke in support of a proposed ordinance (the “Responsible Business Act”) that would impose a tax on employers who had 750 or more employees making less than a “living wage.”  Chairman Daley pointed out that this proposal is not part of the budget, and has been referred to a Board committee for separate consideration.

Several speakers also urged that the focus of the Animal Control Department of the County be expanded to include helping owners find their lost pets. 

One speaker complained about the Health & Hospitals System treating undocumented immigrants.  Chairman Daly stated that the mission of the County’s health system has always been to treat everyone.

Next Steps

The Finance Committee finished its last department meeting on Nov. 2, and has one more public hearing at the Maybrook Courthouse at 6:30 pm on November 5.  Chairman Daley indicated that the deadline for the Commissioners to submit amendments to the proposed budget would likely be next week, but had not been finalized.  Check on the budget calendar.  A meeting of the Finance Committee to vote on these amendments and the resulting budget will then be held, followed by the Board meeting to vote on the budget, as amended.

-- submitted by Priscilla Mims, League Observer

Cook County Committees & Board of Commissioners Meeting Wednesday, April 1, 2015

The board meeting was called to order at noon as committee meetings took longer than scheduled.   Three Committee items of note:

Commissioner Boykin introduced an Ordinance [15-1565] banning the use of Choke Holds by Law Enforcement within the County.  Some commissioners felt the ordinance was a duplication of state law being considered and could lead to a increase in law suits filed.  The Ordinance passed in the Criminal Justice Committee and later by the full board.

Legislative & Intergovernmental Relations Committee:  Amy Patton Campanelli was unanimously approved in Committee and then at the full board meeting to be the next Cook County Public Defender serving a 6 year term, effective April 1, 2015.

Ms. Campanelli spoke about how delighted she was to be appointed the county’s second female Public Defender since the department was established in 1930, in the second largest Public Defender’s office in the country. Ms. Campanelli listed her five goals, with reasonable bond her top priority. The other four goals are to end the practice of prosecuting children in adult court, proactive community outreach, expand the special courts, such as mental and drug courts, and to offer consistent training programs to public defenders.

Finance Committee:  Commissioner Gainer expressed serious skepticism about the Hospital Systems efforts to take in-house its collection efforts and asked for calls to be made to other Chicago hospitals to see if any have in-house collection operations and their experience.

Board Meeting: At 12:10pm, Commissioner Daley offered the consent calendar for approval. Calendar discussion continued until 12:25 and included a tribute to Jan Ortwell, former President of the League of Women Voters of Illinois and Director of the IL Dept. of Aging.

Resolution 15-2499. Lengthy discussion occurred regarding this resolution urging the General Assembly to pass legislation to reform percentage based bail bond fees. The issue is whether the current 10% of posted bail bond, which is a state statute, should be changed to cap the bond fee at $100 which is closer to the cost of processing.  Several commissioners wondered whether requesting other levels of government to take action is worthwhile. Others felt that passing resolutions is a way to ask other government levels to listen to the County’s concerns particularly when the issue in question primarily affects Cook County.  The resolution passed.

Resolution 15-2421. Commissioner Schneider introduced with sponsorship from Arroyo, Fritchey, Gorman, Goslin, Moore and Silvestri, which stated: “The members of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County ….shall oppose a property tax increase and look for other methods to fill the budget shortfalls in the 2016 CC fiscal budget.”  Daley moved that the resolution was out of order and President Preckwinkle agreed.  A roll call vote was called which resulted in the motion being defeated by a comfortable margin.  Schneider stated that he would contact the States Attorney for validation of the motion and ruling.

Resolution #15-2463 offered by Commissioner Tobolski and sponsored by all attending commissioners to engage in outreach for Veteran-owned businesses was moved to the Veteran’s Committee.

Resolution # 150961. The Bureaus of Technology, Finance, and Assessor’s office asked for a $1,633,594 increase and a contract extension through 2019 with Acxiom Corporation in order to run parallel systems while implementing the new platforms. Several commissioners expressed frustration at the continued request for money with no concrete assurances that the problems are resolved and a solid plan and timetable are in place. The new Chief Procurement Officer stated that she is confident this money is needed and that over the next two years more platforms will be up and running with the entire project completed by 2019. The Contract extension passed. 

15-2372. The Assessor’s Office proposed a contract amendment to add $600,000 for [tax] fraud  collection research. Sixty percent of the data gained via this contractor have been good hits. Commissioner Gainer expressed privacy concerns with all the data generated. It was stated that the data was deleted shortly after the search was completed.

Resolution #152543 opposing right to work zones was referred to the Legislative Committee.

Commissioner Gainer asked commissioners to support colleges in reporting sexual abuse attacks on campus. 

A note: 16 commissioners were in attendance at the start of the board meeting and 13 were in attendance at conclusion.  We observers were very pleased to see Commissioner Suffredin back from his medical absence.

Submitted by:  Laura Davis & Diane Edmundson