Last week, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced two alternative service delivery initiatives: 1) managed competition for County custodial services; and 2) third-party administration of the County’s employee absence and leave management.[1] In its 2010 Cook County Modernization Report, the Civic Federation recommended that Cook County institute alternative service delivery, also…
UPDATE: On May 24, 2012 the Illinois General Assembly approved legislation to permit Cook County’s public health system to obtain federal funding for medical services for low-income adults under the Medicaid program. The plan must still be approved by the federal government. House Bill 5007 passed the House by a vote of 62 to 55 and the Senate by a vote of 35 to 22. The Cook County plan required…
At its next meeting, the Committee on Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations of the Cook County Board of Commissioners will consider a resolution requiring the County Assessor, Clerk, Recorder of Deeds, Treasurer and President of the Board of Commissioners to draft an interoffice agreement establishing an Office of Tax Administration. The Civic Federation has historically supported…
On February 14, 2012 the Civic Federation published two blogs about an initiative that would provide for a countywide referendum on whether to eliminate the Cook County Recorder of Deeds office and transfer its functions to the County Clerk. The proposed referendum for the November 2012 ballot would give Cook County voters the opportunity to support or reject this modernization effort that would…
On February 14, 2012, the Civic Federation blogged about its support for a proposed resolution that would put the abolishment of the Office of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds and the transfer of its operations to the County Clerk to a countywide referendum. The public hearing to consider the proposed resolution scheduled for that day was never convened due to a lack of quorum. In order for the…
(See addendum: "No Quorum for Cook County Public Hearing") On February 14, 2012 the Finance Committee of the Cook County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on a proposed resolution requesting a countywide referendum to abolish the Office of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds and transfer its operations to the County Clerk. The Civic Federation recommended the streamlining move in…
In 2011 the Civic Federation blog provided weekly context, information and perspective on government budgets and fiscal issues across Illinois. Posts in 2011 focused on FY2012 local government budget analysis and the severe challenges facing local government pension funds, as well as a series of recommendations for improving the fiscal sustainability of the City of Chicago and Cook…
In 2011 the IIFS blog provided weekly context, information and perspective on key fiscal issues in the State of Illinois. Posts in 2011 focused on analysis of FY2012 Illinois budget negotiations, analysis of the ongoing Illinois pension crisis and timely research on other fiscal issues impacting the State of Illinois. The following is a selection of the year’s posts. Analysis of…
The Cook County Health and Hospitals System appointed Lester Crown and Dr. Quentin Young to be directors of its newly created not-for-profit corporation, the Cook County Health Foundation. On May 26, 2011 the Health System’s Board of Directors approved the creation of the new foundation to…
Last week marked the end of the budget season for the nine local governments monitored by the Civic Federation. These governments include: the City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, DuPage County, City of Chicago, Cook County, Chicago Transit Authority, Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and Chicago Park District.…
