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The effort to whittle away the layers of bureaucracy in Cook County government got a push Wednesday, as commissioners voted to begin consolidating some administrative responsibilities of the Forest Preserve District.
By April, the forest preserve's finance and human resources operations are set to be folded into similar county operations. Still unresolved is whether jobs will be cut and how much will be saved.
Some commissioners wanted a more wide-reaching consolidation plan but settled on something smaller as the board approved the forest preserve's 2007 budget.
No raise for forest chief
Board President Bobbie Steele said she opposed the consolidation plan because it lacked details, while other commissioners said they needed more time to study it.
Steele said she hadn't considered using her veto power to kill the consolidation plans and "wouldn't want to put myself in a position adverse to what the board's will is."
The board voted to increase the district's share of property taxes by 5 percent to pay for a $167 million budget that includes funds for the forest preserves, Brookfield Zoo and the Chicago Botanic Garden.
A substantial raise for Supt. Steve Bylina and the creation of a deputy superintendent's job were left out of the budget.