News • October 20, 2016

City Club: County 2017 Budget

From Milhouse: (L) Eric Lindemann, Senior Civil Engineer
(R) Salmon Danmole, Senior Civil Engineer

President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Toni Preckwinkle said her office’s proposed 2017 budget would close a $174.3 million shortfall by adding a tax on sweetened drinks; instituting some 300 County layoffs; demolishing old or underused tiers on the Cook County Jail campus; and reducing the pre-trial detainee population.

Preckwinkle told members of the City Club of Chicago on October 20 that the budget, which comprises funds for 87 percent public safety and public health services, avoids losing critical support for communities. Touting some of the positive outcomes expected, she said the penny-per-fluid ounce increase on certain sodas and sports drinks promotes positive health impacts by reducing risks of obesity, heart disease, and tooth decay.

Revenues obtained from the sweetened beverage tax will allow the County to double its investment in community-based anti-violence efforts and avert additional layoffs in the public safety arena. In FY 2017, the County will dedicate $6 million to programs that center on anti-violence, anti-recidivism and restorative justice initiatives, said the Board President.

Preckwinkle stressed the importance of putting the tax toward programs to curtail violence in some of Chicago’s most at-risk neighborhoods. Public safety reform, including anti-violence initiatives, has been a key part of Preckwinkle’s policy agenda. Recently, Preckwinkle, the Cook County Justice Advisory Council, and Cook County Health and Human Services have partnered to establish a Community Triage Center (CTC) in the Roseland neighborhood to deliver early intervention services for individuals who are at risk of detention or hospitalization due to behavioral health conditions.

The Justice Advisory Council received its first competitive federal grant award. The two-year $1 million grant will help establish coordinated violence reduction strategies in Robbins, Harvey and Ford Heights. Only five other jurisdictions in the United States received one of these awards.

Since she took office, Preckwinkle has worked with public safety stakeholders to reduce the County Jail’s general detainee population by about 25 percent, according to the County’s website.

Milhouse was a proud sponsor of this City Club of Chicago presentation.