Make the Tough Choices

Cook County levies a $720 million in property taxes each year, $258 million of which goes to the general fund. The remainder goes to servicing County debt, pension contributions, and covering the cost of elections. In these difficult economic times it is hard to ask tax payers to contribute more, especially given the challenges currently facing the job and real-estate markets.

The administration stands by its commitment to rolling back the Cook County sales tax increases. The sales tax is too onerous on the people and businesses of Cook County and it will be phased out through a 0.25% reduction in 2012 and another 0.25% reduction in 2013. Sales taxes often hit disadvantaged communities the hardest. High sales taxes also reduce our competitiveness with neighboring counties.

Cook County collects revenue from taxes on the consumption of gasoline and diesel fuel, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and other consumer goods and services. Revenue in many of these areas has declined in recent years.

Cook County collects revenue from use of services. Fees are assessed in the Court system for processing of documents and administration of cases, as well as marriages and other services. The Hospital System collects fees for providing care. Fines are assessed for violating County ordinances, including citations for environmental damage or violating building codes.

The State and Federal governments appropriate funding directed towards the provision of specific services within statutory limits and as part of distribution formulas, including road construction projects and state income tax distribution.

The “other revenues” category reflects savings from the 2011 bond restructuring and other nonstandard collections.

Cook County is responsible for public safety for 5.3 million residents. The County provides a court system, a jail system, a police force, prosecution and public defense.

Cook County provides crucial health services regardless of residents’ economic status or ability to pay. The Cook County Health and Hospitals System oversees a comprehensive, integrated system, which include hospitals, clinics and a department of public health.

Cook County administers a property taxation system for 1.8 million parcels of real estate, whose taxes collected support 2,200 local government agencies. Key functions are assessment, appeals, billing, and tax collection.

General government includes the Bureaus of Finance, Technology, Human Resources, and Economic Development. It also includes the Bureau of Administration, which encompasses diverse functions from the Medical Examiner to the Highway Department.

The County pays certain types of costs as a whole, called fixed charges. The fixed charges account includes shared expenses like employee health care, pension payments, unemployment compensation, and insurance. Though these payments are made out of centralized accounts, all Offices and departments are held accountable for managing the costs for which they are responsible.