County board squabbles over spending and salaries as levy is set at 5.5 percent increase

Hiring county employees, commissioner salaries, the need for more housing, and spending money from the reserve fund were among the key talking points as the Cook County Board of Commissioners set the 2023 levy and budget during a lengthy meeting Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Toward the end of the marathon meeting, the commissioners agreed to set the 2023 preliminary levy at an increase of 5.5 percent from the current year. This is the same amount the commissioners agreed to set the preliminary levy at in September.

With that sum in mind, the total amount collected in local property taxes will be approximately $11.6 million for next year. The county will use approximately $1.1 million in the reserve fund next year toward expenses.

The vote was approved unanimously on a 5-0 vote.

In a detailed document prepared by Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers for the commissioners ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, the recommendation was to set the levy at approximately 5.3 percent. County officials compiled the document based on budgets presented from various departments at the county and other projected expenses for local government in 2023.

There was a lengthy discussion in September about setting the preliminary levy as high as 6 percent in order to allow for flexibility with spending within local government for next year, including a pay raise for the commissioners that was brought up multiple times by Commissioner Dave Mills. The notion resurfaced Tuesday once again, with Mills suggesting and ultimately making a motion to have the commissioners receive up to $39,566. The board chair for the county currently is paid $24,566. The motion by Mills to dramatically increase the commissioners’ salaries did not receive any support and the motion failed.

However, the topic of how much the commissioners are paid will likely resurface during the final meeting for the county board of the year on Dec. 20. In more news related to wages, County Administrator James Joerke suggested Tuesday that county employees should be paid more, a move that would cost more than $1 million if the plan moves forward. The commissioners will resume the compensation discussion Dec. 20.

The audio below includes Commissioner Stacey Hawkins discussing her concerns over various aspects of how the county is spending money and what it means for local taxpayers. Also included in the clip is Board Chair Ann Sullivan and Mills.

Joe Friedrichs December 13, 2022