Preckwinkle directs county agencies to identify budget cuts

Saying she is preparing for potentially harmful cuts from the state, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is telling all Cook County offices and agencies to identify at least $7 million in savings. "Finding smart savings early in the budget cycle will allow us to ... have a positive impact on this fiscal year and next fiscal year," she said in a news release Tuesday. As part of the administration's savings mandate issued last November, Budget Director Andrea Gibson will institute a 1 percent holdback on personnel in the county's general fund, expected to save about $6 million; a 2 percent increase in the holdback for non-personnel accounts will save an additional $1 million, Preckwinkle's office says. The savings can help cover for a possible $6.3 million cut in income tax revenue to the county, along with other cuts to Medicaid and related areas. In addition, Cook County is reviewing the use of cellphones, printers and vehicles.