Preckwinkle imposes moratorium on non-essential capital and professional service projectsCook County Board President issues executive order focused on restoring fiscal responsibilityMonday, December 13, 2010 Special to suffredin.org Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle issued her first executive order on Monday imposing a moratorium on non-essential capital and professional service contracts.
This is the first of the major initiatives outlined in Preckwinkle’s transition report, released last week. Preckwinkle said the moratorium is a cornerstone of the much-needed overhaul of County spending strategies.
“This is the first step toward ending waste in Cook County and it clearly demonstrates our commitment to fiscal responsibility. This is how we are going to institute a new era of accountability in County government,” she said.
Prior to this, a number of significant capital projects were underway without any consideration for long-term planning or a coordinated capital plan. Cook County currently has roughly $495 million in active contracts coupled with $191 million in planned projects. The capital moratorium could save tens of millions of dollars, according to an analysis conducted by the Preckwinkle’s transition team and Administrative staff. It will offload bad contracts and lay the groundwork for a more strategic approach to capital and professional services spending.
“What this means is all non-essential capital projects and professional service contracts that can be terminated will be terminated. We won’t spend like the County did in the past. We’re creating an process to review, defer, restructure and even eliminate the ill-advised contracts and wasteful spending that marked the previous administration.”
Preckwinkle’s executive order affects only non-essential projects. Exceptions have been made for projects that affect public health and safety, regulatory requirements or instances where the projects are contingent on a commitment from outside funding, such as matching grants.
The County faces a budget deficit of nearly $500 million for FY2011. A balanced FY2011 budget will be submitted by the Office of the Cook County Board President to the Board of Commissioners for review by the end of January. The budget must be approved by the Cook County Board by Feb. 28. Preckwinkle has asked elected officials and department heads to cut 21 percent from their budgets to balance the FY2011 budget.
Click here for a copy of the Order and list of projects.
|
 |
Recent Headlines
Editorial: Taxation tough love from Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi Friday, December 13, 2019 Chicago TribuneCook County’s property tax burden is shifting in the suburbs: Businesses could be hit hard, but homeowners might catch a break Thursday, December 12, 2019 Chicago TribuneThe other financial storm threatening to capsize Illinois' economy Tuesday, December 10, 2019 Crain's Chicago BusinessCounty: Higher property taxes partly a hangover from foreclosure crisis Tuesday, December 10, 2019 Crain's Chicago BusinessGlencoe District 35 increases property tax levy by 4.45% Sunday, December 08, 2019 Chicago TribuneNiles Township Property Tax Appeal Workshops Offered In Skokie Friday, December 06, 2019 PatchWant to pay your property taxes early? Here's how. Wednesday, December 04, 2019 Crain's Chicago BusinessColumn: Twitter exchange with Cook County assessor sums up outrage and exodus: Tax hikes are paying for debt, not services. Tuesday, December 03, 2019 Chicago TribuneNiles taxing bodies, including schools, set to share $3.4 million surplus of TIF district funds Tuesday, December 03, 2019 Pioneer PressUnknown tale: Father George Clements’s role in Cook County court reform Monday, December 02, 2019 Injustice WatchState panel faces Dec. 31 deadline for property tax relief recommendations Monday, December 02, 2019 Chicago TribuneA drop in people, a $1 billion rise in property taxes Monday, December 02, 2019 Daily HeraldIn tents and under bridges, a new Cook County sheriff’s office program helps hard-to-reach drug users Sunday, December 01, 2019 Chicago TribuneNo pay-to-play in the Cook County assessor's office Wednesday, November 27, 2019 Crain's Chicago BusinessDorothy Brown’s office debuts upgrade to criminal court computers to wide ridicule Tuesday, November 26, 2019 Chicago TribuneWhat's happening to Chicago's safety-net hospitals? Monday, November 25, 2019 Crain's Chicago BusinessCook County Health CEO ousted by board Friday, November 22, 2019 Chicago Sun-TimesCook County OKs suburban infrastructure funding Friday, November 22, 2019 Daily HeraldCook County Health CEO out at the end of 2019 after hospital system opts against renewing his contract Friday, November 22, 2019 Chicago TribuneCook County Board greenlights 2020 budget Thursday, November 21, 2019 Crain's Chicago Business
all news items
|