August 28, 2012 was Cook County Employee Recognition Day. For one hour in the afternoon, the five county commissioners handed out ice cream treats to employees in the Commissioners’ Room. Earlier they had signed a proclamation that stated, “Whereas Cook County employees contribute significantly to the well-being and quality of life of all citizens in the county; and whereas Cook County’s public servants have demonstrated unmatched commitment to their fellow citizens by providing vital services in all areas of public health, human services, law and order, finance and administration, communications, personnel, infrastructure and maintenance, planning and zoning; and whereas during these difficult fiscal times our dedicated public servants have taken on additional duties, found ways to cut costs, defined more efficient processes, and expended the taxpayers’ resources with prudence and restraint; …therefore the Cook County Board extends its appreciation and gratitude to all county employees for their continued dedication and commitment to excellence.” Pictured here (L-R) are County Engineer David Betts and commissioners Jan Hall and Jim Johnson.
With departmental budget requests potentially requiring an increase of over 16 percent in the county levy, the county board met on August 28, 2012 to discuss ways to cut costs in 2013. The budget requests could result in total expenditures of $17,563,257 and a levy of $6,949,001.
One way to decrease the levy would be to take out bonds. Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers suggested that while taking out bonds for Highway Department road maintenance equipment and Highway Department and Sheriff ’s Department communications equipment might be prudent, shifting cost of living raises into bonds would not.
Taking out a seven-year bond of $1 million for equipment would cost the county $163,000 in 2013 but cut $863,000 from the levy, bringing it down to $5,989,187, an increase of 4.34 percent.
Public Health & Human Services requested a budget of $2,342,686. While its workload is not decreasing, state and federal funding for this department will decrease by $18,877. The cost of unfunded mandates such as county-paid burials, out-of-home youth placements, childcare licensing, detox, mental health services, and public health education is expected to be $630,954.
Included in the budget increases is an expected expenditure of $87,000 to help the county gear up for the state’s new Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER) that will allow governmental entities to communicate easily with one another. Auditor-Treasurer Powers said the Sheriff ’s Department does have $1.2 million in an account set aside for these costs, however.
The state pulling out of its previous funding for a veterans services officer could cost the county $46,500 for 2013, compared to the $23,500 it is spending this year. A reduction in state funding brought about a request for $17,500 from the Violence Prevention Center instead of the $7,000 in county funding it is getting this year.
A savings of $2,847 is expected in 2013 because of the death of the county fair. Postage expenditures expected to total $2,847 will also save some money, a decrease of $500 or almost 15 percent from this year.
Requested capital improvements potentially impacting the levy include a $35,000 storage building for the Maintenance Department, a $50,000 Information Technology Department office remodel, $50,000 in air conditioning for law enforcement computer equipment, $15,000 in remodeling for Public Health & Human Services offices, $20,000 to insulate the Cook County Historical Society Museum, $9,000 to pressure wash the Highway Department’s Goble Building, $25,000 to replace the Community Center’s ice rink furnaces, and $41,000 in repairs on county buildings.
Expenses that could be paid through bonding include $150,000 in security improvements, $680,580 for infrastructure replacement and improvement at the Highway Department’s Hovland shop, and $575,000 in Highway Department scheduled vehicle replacement.
Departmental budgets
Attending the budget meeting were Highway Engineer David Betts, Highway Department Maintenance Supervisor Russell Klegstad, Public Health & Human Services (PHHS) Director Sue Futterer, and PHHS financial manager Jan Parish.
Sue Futterer said their fund balance is projected to be down to $910,395 by the end of this year – the first time since 2003 it would dip below $1 million.
When asked what they could cut out of the proposed 2013 budget of $5,902,034, Engineer Betts suggested not improving Taylor Lane and building a turnaround there for county equipment, an expenditure he expects will cost about $55,000. The work was authorized by the county board at the request of local residents who claim the county has been maintaining the road for many years even though the county was not claiming it as a county road.
Commissioner Bruce Martinson asked why the county should use general funds for Highway Department equipment when the department’s equipment fund keeps growing. Engineer Betts said they have been trying to build their balance so they have a cushion to cover unknowns, such as a natural disaster not covered by outside sources such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Commissioner Sue Hakes asked if they could defer replacement of Highway Department equipment and vehicles. Supervisor Klegstad said they have stretched their replacement schedule out as far as it can go. The ARMER build-out is affecting their budget a lot, he said.
When he and Betts were asked about the savings from not yet hiring an assistant county engineer as budgeted this year, Klegstad said the lack of an assistant engineer is one of the main reasons he put in 500 hours of overtime last year, indicating that work will cost the county money one way or another.
Commissioner Hakes asked if they could postpone purchase of $49,000 in GPS equipment.
Engineer Betts said they are down to one unit that is busy at one location while another location waits for it.
Betts said they had already cut $1.2 million from their initial 2013 budget, but he also realizes their department’s budget is the largest. “It was hard,” he said.
“There’s a lot of skinny numbers,” said Klegstad.
The board discussed putting up salt/sand structures at the Tofte and Hovland Highway Department properties to eliminate runoff hazards but not replace the deteriorating buildings as requested by Engineer Betts.
Commissioner Jan Hall said she was getting tired of picking on the Highway Department. They have old equipment that needs replacement and some of it is related to safety, she said.
“I plan on picking on everyone,” said Hakes.
“Well you haven’t today,” said Hall.
“We have to cut some stuff,” said Hakes.
The board discussed whether Planning & Zoning could reduce some of its planned expenditures. “Even if their revenues aren’t up,” said Auditor-Treasurer Powers, “their costs are up.”
Hakes wondered if the Cook County Airport could raise its hangar fees and generate $5,000 a year. Commissioner Martinson said they have a lot of empty hangars because numerous airplane owners have pulled out.
Hakes said she has gone over the proposed departmental budgets line by line looking for ways to cut costs.
Commissioner Fritz Sobanja said he has heard great comments on the reconstruction of County Road 8. A lot of tourists come up here and just drive around. Part of their focus should be on good roads, he said.
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