Cook County Board gives stamp to bonds

The Cook County Board rubber-stamped the finance committee's decision to amend a Master Bond Ordinance for more than $750 million, but Riverside Republican Commissioner Tony Peraica fought through some procedural tangles to make sure he and other suburban Republicans got a chance to express their displeasure.

Peraica, who missed last week's special meeting of the finance committee on the bond ordinance, had the matter called as a special issue in approving the meeting minutes at the regular County Board session Tuesday. It passed 11-5, but with the five suburban Republican commissioners voting against. Peraica pointed out it raised the county's total debt to more than $4 billion.

The bonds are being issued largely to pay for capital improvements in health care and public safety.