Accountability
Forest Preserves
Public Safety
Cook County Budget
Forest Pres. Budget
Property Tax Appeal
Cook County Health & Hospitals System
Policy Resolutions

Cook County Budget Process

FY2010 Cook County Budget Passes with reduction in sales tax

On November 19, 2009, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved the Fiscal Year 2010 Cook County Budget. The budget includes a reduction in the sales tax, from 1.75% to 1.25%. Under state law, this reduction will take effect July 1, 2010.

Click here to review President Stroger’s Executive Recommendation. Amendments to the budget can be found here: Amendments 1 - 10, 11 - 20, 21 - 30, 31 - 40, 41 - 50, 51 - 56; and Floor Amendments can be found here: 1 - 20, 21 - 40, 41 - 65.

Commissioner Suffredin leads the way on sales tax repeal

December 1, 2009: The People of Cook County finally got sales tax relief! After four tries and a change in State law lowering the number of votes necessary to override a veto, the Cook County Board was able to override President Todd Stroger’s veto of a .50% reduction of the sales tax. The rate now for Cook County will be below 10% - a barrier that cost Cook County sales revenue and retail jobs. Thank you for your help in passing this repeal.

Regional Sales Tax Analysis

The Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University has studied the economic impact of sales tax policy. Below find their reports.

• Sales Tax Rates and Buying Behavior: Evidence from Communities Near the Cook County Boundary (May, 2009)
• Emerging Sales Tax Trends in Metropolitan Chicago (August, 2009)
• Regional Sales Tax Analysis Update (November, 2009)

Sales tax repeal background:

County’s Sales Tax Repeal Fails (September 1, 2009)

On September 1st, Commissioner Deborah Sims voted to oppose the sales tax repeal. She changed her vote in order to support President Todd Stroger in keeping the Cook County sales tax at 1.75%. I had commitments from 13 other Commissioners, including Commissioner Sims, prior to filing the motion to override President Stroger’s veto of the ordinance reducing the sales tax. The override failed by one vote. This action by Commissioner Sims will hurt the economy of the County significantly.

Here is the roll call on the motion to override President Stroger’s veto:

Voted yes to roll back the sales tax increase (13): Commissioners Suffredin, Claypool, Collins, Daley, Gainer, Gorman, Goslin, Murphy, Peraica, Reyes, Schneider, Silvestri, and Steele.

Voted to support President Stroger’s veto(4): Commissioners Beavers, Butler, Moreno, and Sims.

This action gives greater reasons to remove President Stroger from office.

Addendum from Commissioner Suffredin (9/3/09): I have become aware of threatening messages left at Cook County Commissioner Deborah Sims’ phone. These messages relate to her vote on the repeal of part of the County’s Sales Tax.

Today some ministers suggested that my remarks in disagreeing with Commissioner Sims’ vote may have had a role in causing the threat. I reject that suggestion and I deplore any threats made against Commissioner Sims or any other elected official.

While from a governmental point of view, I disagree with her vote, I defend her right to cast her vote free from personal threats.

Suffredin announces reduction in sales tax (July 21, 2009)

Commissioner Larry Suffredin sponsored an ordinance that passed today reducing the sales tax by .50%. This action will reduce the overall sales tax to 9.75% on January 1, 2010.

In addition the ordinance requires that, "The Cook County Budget for Fiscal Year 2010 will be based on the actual revenue received in Fiscal Year 2009, and there will be no further increase in taxes. The Elected Officials of Cook County shall present their preliminary Fiscal Year 2010 budget requests to the Finance Committee of the Cook County Board of Commissioners at a public hearing, using Fiscal Year 2009 revenues, minus any changes caused by this ordinance reducing the tax rate from one and three-quarters percent (1.75%) to one and one-quarter percent (1.25%). This information will be provided to the President for use in preparation of the Executive Budget Recommendation for Fiscal Year 2010, as provided by 55 ILCS 5/6-24004. This will allow the 2010 budget to be a realistic document that will provide full funding to all essential services."

Commissioner Suffredin said, "The reduction vote today should restore citizen confidence in the fairness of the County tax system."

Statement by Commissioner Suffredin on sales tax veto (May 5, 2009)

On May 5, 2009 I voted to repeal 1% of the Cook County sales tax. This measure passed 12-3 with 2 commissioners absent. President Stroger vetoed the bill and yesterday I voted to over- ride his veto. The over ride vote was 11-4 with 2 commissioners voting present. The over ride needed 14 votes to be successful.

After the over- ride vote I voted to repeal ¾% of the Cook County Sales tax immediately and 1/4% in a year. This measure passed with 10 votes but President Stroger indicates that he will veto it. If he does then the veto over ride would be taken up on June 2, 2009.

While I believed on February 28, 2008 that the 1% sales tax increase was the right approach to stabilizing the County, especially with the establishment of the Independent Professional Health Board, that I sponsored, to run our Health System. The Health Board now controls $1.1 billion in spending that President Stroger previously controlled and mismanaged.

Today, because of the economic reality of the times we live in and because the Independent Health Board is doing their job I believe we can and need to repeal the 1% sales tax. Repeal of this sales tax will stimulate the Cook County retail community and create more jobs. This repeal will also have a boomerang effect and cause shoppers who have left Cook County to come back and shop in Cook County.

I will continue to push for the repeal.

Cook County Revenue Analysis

In 2007, the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability issued the following report on Cook County's revenue stream.

• Executive Summary
• Full Report

Quick Links:

2010 Budget
View information on 2010 Budget

• Click here to review President Stroger’s Executive Recommendation.
• Budget Amendments:
• 1 - 10
• 11 - 20
• 21 - 30
• 31 - 40
• 41 - 50
• 51 - 56
• Floor Amendments:
• 1 - 20
• 21 - 40
• 41 - 65

2009 Budget
View information on 2009 Budget

• Budget remarks from President Stroger
• 2009 Executive Budget Recommendation

FY09 Budget statements from Commissioner Suffredin

• Suffredin Statement: 2009 Cook County Budget Lacks Incentives for Accountability from President Stroger (February 20, 2009)
• Suffredin Statement: Opposing President Stroger's Blanket Authority to Borrow or Refinance up to $3.75 Billion
• Suffredin Statement: Refuting Cook County Pension Board Scare Tactics
• Suffredin Statement: Regarding Actions Taken to Protect Cook County Finances After Resignation of CFO

2008 Budget
View information on 2008 Budget

• Budget remarks from President Stroger
• Budget briefing presentation
• 2008 Executive Budget

FY08 Budget statements from Commissioner Suffredin

Suffredin Statement: March 2, 2008

2007 Budget
View information on 2007 Budget

• Adopted 2007 County Budget Amendments
• 2007 Executive Budget Recommendation
• Omnibus Cook County 2007 Budget Amendment-2-23-07

FY07 Budget statements from Commissioner Suffredin

• Suffredin Statement: February 23, 2007
• Suffredin Statement: February 22, 2007
• Suffredin Statement: January 17, 2007

FY07 Supplemental Fund Transfer information

• Suffredin Statement on salary increases for State’s Attorneys
• Suffredin Statement on COLA agreement
• Suffredin Statement on Supplemental Fund Transfer (Grant Employees and Public Defender Supervisors)

2006 Budget
View information on 2006 Budget

• FY06 Budget statement from Commissioner Suffredin

2005 Budget
View information on 2005 Budget

FY05 Budget statements from Commissioner Suffredin:

• February '05
• November '04
• Alternatives to Cut Government Waste
• Joint Press Release (11-30-04)

2004 Budget
View information on 2004 Budget

FY04 Budget statements from Commissioner Suffredin:

• January ‘04
• November ‘03
• October ‘03

Chicago's biggest hospitals' tax-exempt status is under scrutiny after landmark court ruling
Monday, April 26, 2010
Crain's Chicago Business

County's 'elevator operators,' other job titles present misleading picture
Friday, April 09, 2010
ChicagoCurrent

Cook Co. board panel backs new capital bonds
Friday, March 26, 2010
Daily Herald

Cook board to debate bond issue labeled 'shell game' by commissioner
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Daily Herald

Cook county panel votes to borrow $332 million for projects, equipmen
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Chicago Tribune

Cook Co. board again nixes full sales-tax rollback
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Daily Herald

Death by sweetener
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Chicago Tribune

Sales tax rollback dies in committee
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
ChicagoCurrent

Cook County Board addresses pension shortfall
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Daily Herald

Cook County Board approves borrowing to cover employee pension costs
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Chicago Tribune

Budget Woes Fray County’s Public Health System
Sunday, December 13, 2009
New York Times: Chicago News Cooperative

Williams in charge of county finances, $3B budget
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Chicago Defender

Meeting for sales-tax roll back called
Monday, November 09, 2009
Chicago Sun-Times

Now it's time to scale back that tax
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Daily Herald

Todd Stroger's veto power lessened by new state law
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Chicago Tribune

Quinn sets stage for sales tax rollback
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Chicago Sun-Times

Cook sales-tax foes await Quinn action
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Daily Herald

Stroger budget embattled on two fronts
Friday, October 30, 2009
Daily Herald

County Budget Axe Spares Jobs at Health Bureau
Friday, February 27, 2009
Chicago Public Radio

Another Cook County Tax Increase Coming?
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
WBEZ

Cook County budget, finances leave some scratching their heads
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Daily Herald

No-show Stroger's disdain for suburbs
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Daily Herald

Cook County Realtor hired by Stroger demoted after questions of his qualifications
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Chicago Tribune

Stroger to skip Palatine secession meeting
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Special to suffredin.org

Kudos in Budget Crisis For Commissioner Suffredin
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Special to suffredin.org

STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER LARRY SUFFREDIN ON 2008 BUDGET PASSAGE
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Northwest Herald

Officials set to oppose county cuts
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Chicago Tribune

The 17% charade
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Chicago Tribune

County Board nixes tax increases
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Chicago Sun-Times

How to avoid Stroger's taxes
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Beavers' race rhetoric is wrong on facts and as political tactic
Friday, November 30, 2007
Daily Southtown

Stroger's take: 'We are stuck'
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Cook County Board argues, but can't trim the budget.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Daily Herald

Getting through to the Stroger 9
Monday, November 26, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Five Cook County tax alternatives floated.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Stroger's no-show doesn't go over well
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Daily Herald

Stroger blasts Devine, others for not backing his tax hikes
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Stroger is the latest to bug us with tax hike proposals
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Daily Southtown

Stroger makes bad tax proposal worse
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Daily Herald

Hearings set on Stroger's plans
Friday, October 19, 2007
Chicago Sun-Times

Despite tax hikes, Cook chief plans to spend more
Friday, October 19, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Stroger proposes to roll three years of taxes into one
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Daily Herald

Stroger Goggles
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Stroger's $888 million tax hikes.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Stroger proposes tripling sales tax, boosting other levies.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Crain's Chicago Business

Cook commissioner says he'll oppose sales tax hike
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Daily Herald

How Cook dug itself into a hole.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Cook County Board to consider sales tax increase
Monday, October 01, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Biz to pay under revamped property-tax cap bill
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Crain's Chicago Business

Next budget fight begins -- with hopes for an early finish
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Daily Southtown

Layoffs beginning with no final budget
Friday, March 02, 2007
Daily Southtown

Layoffs beginning with no final budget
Friday, March 02, 2007
Daily Southtown

Stroger plans summit meeting on budget cuts
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Chicago Tribune

For whom the budget tolls becoming clear
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Daily Herald

County budget chops 1,700 jobs
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Chicago Sun-Times

Cook County Board OKs budget with layoffs
Friday, February 23, 2007
Crain's Chicago Business

Stroger wins $3 billion county budget battle
Friday, February 23, 2007
Chicago Sun-Times

Cook County Board passes compromise version of Stroger budget
Friday, February 23, 2007
Daily Herald

Hold line on taxes, cut 'exempt' jobs, consolidate clinics
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Daily Southtown

Budget showdown comes this week
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Daily Southtown

Commissioners target high-paying jobs
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Chicago Sun-Times

Officials offer up dueling budgets
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Daily Southtown

No to taxes, yes to fees
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Daily Herald

Legislators tackle local issues in forum
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Pioneer Press

Commissioners demand cuts in management
Friday, January 26, 2007
Chicago Sun-Times

County Board feels heat over budget cuts
Friday, January 26, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Can he deliver?
Monday, January 22, 2007
Chicago Sun-Times

Payroll padding will spark opposition
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Chicago Sun-Times

Stroger to detail his $100 million budget-cut plan
Friday, January 19, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Stroger’s budget lingo
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Daily Herald

cCritics assail Stroger budget's trims
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Chicago Sun-Times

Stroger details spending cuts
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Let the budget games begin
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Chicago Sun-Times

Commissioners grade Stroger's budget incomplete
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Daily Southtown

Stroger budget would cut health clinics, 450 jobs
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Chicago Tribune

The 17 percent solution
Monday, January 15, 2007
Chicago Sun-Times

County Board backs budget cuts
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Chicago Sun-Times

Stroger has the votes for cuts
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Daily Herald

Can Pappas give lessons?
Monday, January 08, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Dire prognosis for poor
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Second Cook County official commits to 17 percent cuts
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Daily Herald

Official says he'll make cuts for county budget
Friday, January 05, 2007
Daily Southtown

Judge Stroger by his budget
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Chicago Tribune

On Web, Stroger argues his case for county budget cuts
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Claypool rips Stroger's budget plan
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Daily Southtown

Public defender meets budget cuts. Layoffs could be required, official says
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Chicago Tribune

Officials not cutting budget, Stroger says
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Chicago Tribune

Don't make county's woes worse
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Chicago Tribune

Stroger stands firm behind call for budget cuts
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
ABC/Channel 7 news

Stroger should lead by example on budget cuts
Friday, December 22, 2006
Chicago Sun-Times

17 percent cutback in Cook County? Not very likely
Friday, December 22, 2006
Daily Southtown

County collects cigarette taxes
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Pioneer Press

County officials balk at cuts
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Chicago Tribune

Stroger promises to enforce cuts
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Daily Southtown

Stroger wants county budgets slashed
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Chicago Sun-Times

The 10 percent solution
Friday, December 15, 2006
Chicago Tribune

Commissioner rips gov over county loan payment plan
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Chicago Sun-Times

Steele sees way out of red
Friday, September 29, 2006
Chicago Tribune

Cook County faces potential $500M budget hole
Friday, September 29, 2006
Crain's Chicago Business

Steele: County must brace for tight budget
Friday, September 29, 2006
Chicago Defender

Cook County leader tries to fight $500 million deficit
Friday, September 29, 2006
Daily Herald

Plan would make it harder for Cook County Board to raise taxes
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Daily Herald

County's deficit hits $40 million
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Chicago Sun-Times

John Daley backs consolidating tax roles
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Chicago Sun-Times

County seeking $200 mil. loan
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Chicago Sun-Times

Cook’s finance chair losing patience with county managers
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Crain's Chicago Business

County facing $100 million deficit
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Chicago Sun-Times

Commissioners want answers on county's financial picture
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Chicago Sun-Times

County leaders on lookout for cash crunch
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Daily Southtown

Cook County faces cash crunch
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Crain's Chicago Business

Cigarette tax hike may leave trail of smoke
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Chicago Sun-Times

County doubling tax on cigarettes to $2 per pack
Friday, February 10, 2006
Chicago Tribune

A pain in the butts
Friday, February 10, 2006
Chicago Sun-Times

Smokers hit hard by county pack tax hike; Stroger, Claypool continue war of words
Friday, February 10, 2006
Chicago Defender

Holy Smokes! County doubles tax on cigarettes
Friday, February 10, 2006
Daily Southtown

Crony taxes and the poor
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Chicago Tribune

Devine: More money needed to view interrogations
Monday, January 23, 2006
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin

County residents to have say on tax cuts for apartments
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Chicago Tribune

Cook County plan boosts home taxes
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Chicago Tribune

Sheriff gets no help to hire court-ordered jail guards
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Chicago Sun-Times

No solution on jail guard funding
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Daily Southtown

County tax on loose tobacco questioned
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Chicago Sun-Times

County budget blasted by everyone
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Daily Southtown

Watchdog group attacks county budget
Friday, January 06, 2006
Daily Southtown

Reforms blocked at county hospitals
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Daily Southtown

Stroger rebuked over hiring
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Chicago Tribune

Judge blasts county on jail
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Daily Southtown

Stroger wants to double cig tax
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Chicago Sun-Times

Cook County seeks cigarette tax hike
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Chicago Tribune

Courts face $3.8 million budget cut for '06
Monday, December 19, 2005
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin

Stroger to raise cigarette tax in 2006 budget
Monday, December 19, 2005
Crain's Chicago Business

Stroger now seeks to add $1.25 to the cigarette tax
Friday, December 16, 2005
Chicago Tribune

Smoking, hotel taxes once again are on Cook County agenda
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Daily Southtown

Stroger seeks 2 election-year tax hikes
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Chicago Tribune

Stroger proposes boosting cigarette tax; no property tax hike
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Daily Southtown

County won't raise property taxes after all
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Chicago Sun-Times

Stroger wants to double cigarette tax
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Chicago Tribune

County treasurer trims budget again
Monday, November 14, 2005
Chicago Tribune

A sound Chicago budget
Friday, November 04, 2005
Chicago Tribune

County tax hike in question
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Daily Southtown

Cook County Board should make cuts, not raise taxes
Friday, October 14, 2005
Daily Southtown

Cook Co. expects nearly $200M budget shortfall
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Daily Southtown

Cuts, not casinos, will balance budget
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Daily Southtown

County must put end to litany of new taxes
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Daily Southtown