Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Chicago Tribune

COOK COUNTY -- Cook County Sheriff Michael Sheahan is seeking 380 new jobs, primarily for jail and courtroom security, at a cost of more than $20 million for next year.

County Board President John Stroger said he viewed Sheahan's request as a negotiating stance for the upcoming budget talks and doubted the county could afford to add so many new positions.

Stroger has previously said the county is facing a 2006 budget shortfall of at least $186 million.

In addition to 188 new jail guards, Sheahan is seeking 80 more courtroom deputies for the Daley Center to address concerns following the February murders of U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow's husband and mother.

The County Board earlier this year added 283 jail positions under pressure from a federal judge overseeing a consent decree governing conditions there.

Two years ago, Sheahan pulled Stroger's security after the two disagreed over the sheriff's budget request for more jail guards.