All Week Long
Originally published on chicago.suntimes.com 10/5/23 | Photo: Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is pitching an optimistic $9.14 billion budget for next year: no new taxes, fees or hikes — and no layoffs of government employees.
Among her priorities, Preckwinkle is bracing to pay more to help provide medical care for thousands of asylum seekers arriving in Chicago. And she plans to tap about $166 million in reserves to continue some programs the county created with federal pandemic relief dollars after that lifeline runs out in a few years.
“We’ve worked diligently to make Cook County a place of innovation, resilience and opportunity,” Preckwinkle said Thursday during her budget speech at the county’s downtown boardroom. “I can confidently say today that the financial condition of Cook County is strong.”
Originally published on cbsnews.com 10/5/23
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has presented the county's $9.14 billion budget plan for 2024, with no new taxes or layfoffs.
During a special board meeting on Thursday, Preckwinkle said her budget plan would close a $162 million deficit by eliminating around 300 vacant positions within Cook County Health.
Preckwinkle said most of the vacancies were not clinical, and nurses would not be not affected.
County commissioners are expected to vote on the budget in November.
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