There are two separate and distinct meetings of the Finance Committee scheduled for tomorrow, November 18, as follows:
9:00 AM – Public Hearing. Testimony from the public will be heard. The agenda will be limited to a proposed increase in the Wheel Tax (deferred during the meeting of November 14) and two proposed increases to the Tobacco Tax, a new annual fee assessed on cigarette rolling machines, and a partial rollback to the recent increase in the Alcohol Tax. For the full text of all items on the agenda for the 9:00 AM meeting, see this link:
http://legacy.cookcountygov.com/secretary/finance%20items%2011-14-11.html
9:30 AM – Recessed Finance Budget Meeting of October 25 will reconvene to consider all proposed amendments that were submitted prior to the Nov. 16 deadline, and to approve by roll call vote, the final 2012 budget recommendation. Please note that floor amendments and new revenue ordinances will not be in order during this meeting. No public testimony will be heard.
In the event that the 9:00 AM meeting runs long, the 9:30 meeting will be called to order and recessed until the conclusion of the 9:00 AM meeting. The Special Meeting of the Cook County Board, scheduled for 10:00 AM, will follow a similar procedure if a delayed start is required.
DEPARTMENT HEARINGS CONCLUDED
Hearings are now concluded for twenty-five budgetary units: the Bureau of Finance, Bureau of Technology, Office of Administrative Hearings, Offices under the President, Bureau of Administration, Facilities Management, and the Bureau of Economic Development, Office of the Public Administrator, County Auditor, Board of Election Commissioners, Cook County Board of Commissioners, Independent Inspector General, Assessor, Board of Review, Recorder of Deeds, Sheriff, Clerk of the Circuit Court, State’s Attorney, Health and Hospitals System, Bureau of Human Resources, and County Clerk, Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, Chief Judge, Public Defender, and Treasurer.
The first public hearing was held Nov. 1 in Skokie, the second was Nov. 2 in Maywood, and the third was Nov. 3 in the County Building, and the fourth was Nov. 8 in Markham. A fifth public hearing was held to discuss proposed revenue measures on Nov. 14, at 10:00 AM in the Cook County Board Room.
A Public Hearing of the Finance Committee was held to consider fifteen (15) proposed revenue amendments/ordinances related to the 2012 budget. For the complete text of all proposed revenue measures (in original un-amended format) that were debated at this Committee Hearing, click here: http://legacy.cookcountygov.com/secretary/finance%20items%2011-14-11.html Of the 15 separate items, 13 were approved and two were deferred. The approved items included 315196, 315197, 315198, 315199, 315200, 315201 (amended), 315202, 315203 (amended), 315204, 315205 (amended), 315207, 315209 (amended), and 315213 (amended). The two deferred items were 315206 and 315208.
The Finance Committee is expected to reconvene at 9:00 AM on Friday, November 18. At this point, two separate meetings are anticipated; one meeting at 9:00 to consider any measures sent to Committee during the regular board meeting of November 15, and one meeting convened at 9:30 to consider all budgetary amendments submitted by members of the Board, prior to final passage of the budget.
NO FLOOR AMENDMENTS DURING FINAL PASSAGE THIS YEAR – AMENDMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ADVANCE FOR BUDGET STAFF REVIEW
During a recent Finance Committee Hearing, Budget Director Andrea Gibson informed the Committee of her concerns with the previous year’s amendment process, specifically with the fact that new amendments can seemingly be offered at any time up to and including the ending minutes of the final meeting prior to adoption. This method does not allow for adequate review of proposed amendments, many of which are lengthy and complex. Chairman Daley, in concurrence with the Budget Director’s concerns, noted that several of last year’s amendments entered during the late hours contained errors that were not discovered until the following days.
In order to ensure adequate time for staff review and analysis, all proposed amendments to the 2012 Executive Budget must be submitted (via the automated Budget Amendment System) prior to a hard deadline of 5:00 PM on Wednesday, November 16. Only amendments that meet this deadline will be called for debate during the Finance Committee meeting of November 18, when the budget will be moved for adoption. Commissioners staff with questions about the automated Budget Amendment System are urged to contact Vincent Patterson of the Office of Budget and Management Services immediately for assistance, at vincent.patterson@cookcountyil.gov. For questions about this hearing calendar, contact Brian Hopkins, Chief of Staff to Finance Chairman Daley, at brian.hopkins@cookcountyil.gov
