There are 128 suburbs in Cook County, and some of those have asked about having the sheriff take over policing duties, he added.

“We have received formal inquiries from Harwood Heights, Sauk Village, Worth and Norwood Park, asking about the costs of policing their village and we have received informal inquiries from many others,” said Steve Patterson, Dart’s spokesman. “All, obviously, come on the heels of us taking over policing duties in Ford Heights two years ago.”

Policing Ford Heights --- the cost of which is borne by all county taxpayers --- is about $2.3 million a year, Patterson said. Eighteen deputies are assigned full-time to the task.

The village is supposed  to pay $3,000 a month, but has not even been able to make those payments, Undersheriff Zelda Whittler said. Under a new proposed agreement, the village would have to open its books to the county if it fails to make future payments, she said.

Commissioner William Beavers, D-Chicago, voted against the resolution. “The sheriff has a responsibility if any municipality cannot afford a police department,” he said.