Cook County Administrator Jeff Cadwell presented a review of some of the discretionary funding requests and a 2017 budget status update at the county board’s November 29 meeting.
When compared to 2016 spending ($19,527,755), the 2017 proposed budget is $19,294,876. The change from 2016 to 2017 is negative 0.1 percent.
However, the county collected $7,070,780 in property taxes in 2016 and proposes to collect $8,477,865 in property taxes for 2017, an increase of 19.9 percent.
The biggest proposed increases for the 2017 budget are to the General Fund, up 24 percent ($729,475), the Highway Fund, up 28.6 percent ($525,167); the Public Health and Human Services request, up 49.6 percent ($599,228); and the Cook County YMCA, up 45 percent ($45,000).
Currently, the 2017 levy stands at a 19.88 increase over 2016. Two other big drivers of the tax are a 19.88 percent growth in health insurance and a cost of living adjustment (COLA) of four percent for 2017.
What will a 19.99 raise in Levy look like?
If you live in Schroeder and your house is assessed at $250,000 your 2017 proposed homestead tax levies will increase by $465 over 2016. That hike comes from the following places: County $207; I.S.D. 166 building bond $39; I.S.D. 166 operating levy $163; Cook County Grand Marais EDA $27; North Shore Health (hospital) $4; Schroeder levy $25.
Commissioners have until December 28 to set the 2017 levy.
In other county business, Molly LaFreniere was appointed to serve a three-year term on the Cook County Community Center Board of Trustees. Molly will replace Bryan Carpenter when his term ends January 17.
Cadwell gave a brief update on the worker’s compensation study that is being conducted by Keystone Marketing. The consulting company is interviewing county employees to learn more about their duties and responsibilities. Once they have completed the job descriptions they will rank the jobs in classifications with assigned pay scales used by the county.
“It sounds as if the comp study is proceeding on schedule,” said Commissioner Frank Moe to Cadwell.
“Do we want to meet the deadline or do we want a product that meets the expectations of our staff? The consultant has always said they could meet the deadline,” replied Cadwell, advising it might take a little longer to get a better finished product.
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