I want to find out about proposed job cuts in Cook County as proposed by Todd Stroger?

Answer 1

Here is an article that came out today-

Could Stroger cuts cost county more?
(http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/179041,CST-NWS-county20.article)

December 20, 2006

BY STEVE PATTERSON Staff Reporter

It's a dance that has become a bit of an annual ritual in Cook County government.

A huge budget shortfall is announced, followed by a demand for unreal cuts and cries of mayhem if the cuts are made.

Now, the staring match is on to see who blinks first: Cook County Board President Todd Stroger -- who is demanding a 17 percent cut from every county official's budget -- or those county officials who say they can't possibly provide basic services with cuts so deep.

And, some officials said, the cuts will be so drastic that they'll end up costing the county even more money -- hiring private contractors or enduring lawsuits over work the county is obligated to do.

"I don't know what they're thinking," said county Treasurer Maria Pappas, who has cut 104 jobs and millions from her budget since 2002.

Seriousness questioned
She said the real fat in county government is in a county payroll system that delivers annual cost-of-living and step increases for employees, on top of minimal health insurance payouts for most.

Late Monday, Stroger fired his carefully scripted warning shot: he wants budgets from all county officials on his desk by Friday with 17 percent cuts to close a $500 million deficit.

That would mean fewer guards at the jail, nurses in hospitals, public defenders and prosecutors in courtrooms, and clerks to process court documents. Pappas said property owners might have to pick up their tax bills because she couldn't afford postage.

But because Stroger didn't talk with elected officials about the cuts before releasing details to the media, many are skeptical about how serious he is about deep cuts.

President's moves watched
Officials had been told to cut 10 percent from their budgets. Going deeper, they said, would be "devastating," "terrible" and "not responsible." Yet those same officials are unwilling to back a property tax increase to balance their budgets -- something Stroger has also sworn off.

Many will now watch for Stroger's commitment to his own plan and see how -- or if -- he makes 17 percent cuts over budgets he controls, like the debt-saddled, patronage-laden $1 billion hospital system.

They're also watching personnel moves now that he's in office and where he's finding money to make certain hires.

Stroger said he'll show "common sense" in making cuts, but "everyone will have to take a cut," as he has no backup plan to balance the county's $3 billion budget.

Contributing: Eric Herman

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