Are More Cuts Coming For Cook County?

By Kevin Robinson in News on Aug 24, 2010 3:20PM

With county government facing a $300 million shortfall next year, (soon-to-be-former) county board president Todd Stroger appears poised to propose an across the board 10 percent cut. “The administration is still working hard on the budget,” county spokesman James Ramos told the Tribune, explaining that the county CFO Jaye Williams had no comment on next year's budget. “It is premature to make any statements.” Finance Committee Chair John Daley (who is also the mayor's brother) said that he believes the budget shortfall for the county could be even worse than anticipated next year, and supports the 10 percent cuts.

Although Stroger will be out of office before year's end, he is expected to propose a budget that his successor will have to deal with. Democrat 4th Ward Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, Republican state lawmaker Roger Keats and Green Party Candidate Tom Tresser are all vying for the position on the November 2 ballot.