Q&A: Gorman, Maher in Cook County Board 17
Two Orland Park candidates are vying for Cook County Board District 17, incumbent Commissioner Elizabeth Doody Gorman, a Republican, and Patrick Maher, a Democrat. Despite their hometown, District 17 covers large tracts of Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Mount Prospect and Wheeling. The candidates responded to the Daily Herald questionnaire; a Green Party candidate from Orland Park, Matthew Ogean, did not.
Q. What is your No. 1 campaign issue?
Maher: Our county government is broken and it is essential that the Cook County Board make our county more fiscally responsible and accountable to the taxpayers. As President of the Orland Fire Protection District I haven't just talked about fiscal responsibility we have achieved it. When I was first elected to the OFPD, we were facing a massive budget deficit and an underfunded pension system. Today our pension system is 100% funded and we have added 20 new firefighters in the process. By changing our spending priorities we have been able to abate approximately $1.3 million dollars back to the tax payers of the Orland Fire Protection District in 2008 and 2009. Because of the changes we made the tax rate for the Orland Fire Protection District is currently the lowest it has been in 20 years. I believe that we can take the same approach to balancing the Cook County budget.
Gorman: Creation of a Strategic Plan – County Government has struggled for decades as a year to year program. What is needed is a strategic plan outlining a vision, goals and firm strategic direction on a long range basis that should be implemented based on increasing operational efficiencies while streamlining costs. It is also important that a legitimate financial plan that properly balances services, costs and revenue be established to achieve a government operation that provides quality service for taxpayers while cutting needless and excessive costs. The plan must provide a significant curtail in spending since overspending has been the obvious problem.
Q. What is your No. 2 campaign issue?
Maher: We must raise the ethical standards for Cook County officials. This year the voters of Cook County voted out a county board president that represented the politics as usual system that has been plagued by patronage and mismanagement. It has been disgraceful to watch this outgoing administration waste taxpayer money on contracts with their political cronies that are below the threshold that need to be approved by the board. Elected officials must be held accountable for their actions. As president of the Orland FPD I enacted a first of it's kind ethics ordinance to stamp out pay-to-play politics by placing strict limits on campaign contributions from OFPD contractors. Additionally while president of the OFPD we hired the first ever Human Resources director to ensure a fair hiring system without outside political influence. As Cook County Commissioner I will continue with these efforts to ensure ethical government for the people of Cook County.
Gorman: Consolidation – Downsizing county government would result in establishing two critical items: financial stability and operational efficiency. A legitimate strategic plan would be a major facet in realizing this ultimate goal. Over the last several decades, county government has been built as a patronage operation and has not provided services in an efficient and professional manner as it should. Each and every county department and program must be up for review so as to identify legitimate and non-legitimate operational costs, service needs, programs, personnel, and more. One example would be the discussed consolidation of the Assessor, Recorder of Deeds and the Treasurer's offices as their functions are interrelated and could be best served within one department/office.
Q. What is your No. 3 campaign issue?
Maher: In the face of the grim financial realities that Cook County faces we must make changes to our spending priorities. I have made numerous specific proposals to save money for the county including: Merging the Cook County Forest Preserve Police Department into the Sheriff's Department; eliminating the office of School Superintendent, and upgrading the technology at the Cook County Health Bureau to bring about the desperately needed improvements in bill collection within the system.
Gorman: Reforming Ethics Policies – This has been and will remain a vital issue for county government. At the fundamental root of Cook County Government's problems has been the unethical approach taken by its administration in its hiring practices, tax and spending policies, execution of operations and services, etc. Our work to install the Independent Health System Board to oversee the Cook County Healthcare System was a major step in correcting the ethical lapses that overran the county health care system with a bloated bureaucracy that was filled with political patronage job holders who lacked professionalism, health care expertise and the ability to provide first class service for its patients and taxpayers. There are similar examples of this type of unethical approach to operating county government throughout county government.
Q. Should the remainder of the 1-percentage-point sales tax increase be repealed? Why or why not? What cuts or other revenue generators would you support to replace that lost income? What effect does the sales tax have on businesses near other counties?
Maher: I am in favor of a full repeal of the 1 percentage point sales tax increase. In a district like the 17th, which is on the edge of Cook County, a sales tax increase is devastating to area businesses. If a consumer can drive an extra 5 minutes to save money they almost always will. We need to explore ways to cut costs, waste and duplication before we even consider a tax increase. As Commissioner I would view it as my responsibility to go through the county budget line by line to find ways to cut fat. There is endemic waste within the county budget that has accrued over the decades and it must be removed. During the course of my campaign I have made numerous specific proposals to save money for the county including: Merging the Cook County Forest Preserve Police Department into the Sheriff's Department; eliminating the office of School Superintendent, and upgrading the technology at the Cook County Health Bureau. We must examine ideas like these and change the spending priorities of Cook County. As President of the Orland Fire Protection District I have proven that you can fund and actually expand essential services without raising taxes. When I was first elected the OFPD had a $2.1 million dollar deficit and an underfunded pension. Today we have a balanced budget, a fully funded pension, and for each of the last 2 years we have abated $1.3 million dollars back to the tax payers of the Orland Fire Protection District all while achieving the lowest tax rate that the residents of the OFPD have seen in the last 20 years. I believe we can achieve the same results on the county level.
Gorman: The record indicates that I have been in the forefront on this issue and will work diligently with the incoming administration to repeal the remainder of the sales tax increase in a timely manner. On May 5, 2009, I sponsored ordinance amendments to repeal the 1% 2008 sales tax increase. Realizing some of Stroger's allies were not in attendance, I pushed for a vote and the amendments passed [they were numbered 09-O-29 and 09-O-30] President Stroger quickly vetoed it. The board's attempt to override the veto came up one vote short of the needed 4/5 majority. As a result of this arcane threshold, legislation was pushed in Springfield to change the 4/5 majority down to 3/5 putting it in line with all other governmental bodies in the state of Illinois. I sponsored the resolution [09-R-458] urging the legislature and governor to act swiftly to pass and sign the veto override legislation (Senate Bill 1868), which they did in October.
The county board successfully moved Nov. 18, 2009, to repeal 0.5% of the Sales Tax on a vote of 12 to 5. We attempted to pass a 1.0% repeal but could not garner the necessary votes. Having exhausted all attempts in that regard, through our persistence and determination we were able to craft a compromise to get the needed 12 votes for the 0.5% repeal: A victory for the taxpayers and businesses who spoke out so strongly on this issue. Those same 12 commissioners successfully overrode the president's veto on the sales tax repeal. It is my hope that this will be the first step in repealing the remainder of the sales tax increase. I will continue to fight for a fair and equitable sales tax that does not put our businesses in an economic disadvantage and take more money out of consumers' pockets. The Sales Tax Repeal and the Veto Override marked a new chapter in Cook County Government. Commissioner John Daley, Finance Chairman, is proposing at least a 10% cut to 2011 budgets. Those who don't meet the challenge would have to explain publicly where they would find new revenue. I support the proposed 10% cut and limit spending as a solid starting point. I believe saving ten cents on the dollar, or more in other cases, is achievable. We must demand more in fiscal responsibility.
Q. Do the suburbs get a fair share of Cook County resources? Please explain and give examples. How would you repair any inequities?
Maher: As I go door to door all over the 17th district I am hearing the same thing over and over again, people are tired of the mismanagement of Cook County and they feel as if nothing is being done properly with the resources they have. I couldn't agree more! Our county government is broken and the services that so many of us rely are starting to disappear. It is essential that the Cook County Board make our county more fiscally responsible and accountable to the taxpayers. It is time to vote out the people that have allowed this culture of waste to exist and it's time for some new ideas on how we can move Cook County into the future.
Gorman: As of 2008, the 17th District ranked third (of 17) in the highest amount of County Taxes Paid in both the Residential Taxes and Non-Residential Taxes. In 2008, the 17th District ranked last in the amount of Visits (11,916) and the amount of Patients (4,085) to the County's Bureau of Health. Beyond the direct use of social services, suburbs do receive a share of county resources in different areas such as the Highway Department with their maintenance of hundreds of miles of roads throughout suburban area and the many infrastructure projects and upgrades addressing not only transportation but water retention and flood mitigation (i.e.: Levee 37 & Levee 50). The county Sheriff's Department, the Public Health Department, Homeland Security and other county agencies provide rapid-response services. There are many recreational services provided by the county which the suburban area benefits greatly from and enjoys regularly throughout the year. For example, the Forest Preserve District, Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Botanic Garden, Little Red School House Nature Center and many more facilities and programs throughout the suburban area.
Q. Is the Cook property-tax assessment system equitable? Do you support the new formula for assessing homes at 10 percent of market value and businesses at 25 percent of market value? Why or why not? What changes, if any, do you favor?
Maher: While mandating the 25/10 ratio between businesses and residential homes is proper I believe the Cook County Board acted irresponsibly in their implementation of the ordinance. As a certified real-estate appraiser with more than 15 years experience appraising and valuing homes and businesses I know firsthand how depressed property values have become across Cook County and how homeowners are struggling to make ends meet. The 25/10 ratio should have been phased-in over a number of years to provide balance to the property tax levy while not adding to the struggles of homeowners.
Gorman: I recognize that reform to the tax-assessment system needs to be made but those reforms are made by the state legislature. In September 2008, I supported and the County Board passed an ordinance known as the 10/25 ordinance which was intended to simplify assessments and make it easier to understand for homeowners. The ordinance reduced the number of assessment classifications from 6 to 2, with residential properties being assessed at 10% of market value instead of 16% and industrial and commercial properties being assessed at 25% of market value instead of 36% and 38%, respectively. This change did not affect the actual assessment of a property, it merely simplified to allow for a simpler computation.
Q. As revenues are likely to keep falling in the year ahead, what spending cuts can and should be made in Cook County government? Please be specific.
Maher: In the face of the grim financial realities that Cook County faces we must make changes to our spending priorities. I have made numerous specific proposals to save money for the county including: Merging the Cook County Forest Preserve Police Department into the Sheriff's Department; eliminating the office of School Superintendent, and upgrading the technology at the Cook County Health Bureau to bring about the desperately needed improvements in bill collection within the system. Furthermore, as Commissioner I would view it as my responsibility to go through the county budget line by line to find ways to cut fat. There is endemic waste within the county budget that has accrued over the decades and it must be removed.
Gorman: Improving the overall performance of the county health care system, the top expenditure, is critical to reducing spending and waste. The independent board has been making huge strides in streamlining health care operations and there is still much more work to be done in this area. Every single department and program must be on the table for analysis and review to determine its financial efficiency and overall effectiveness in providing its operational value/purpose. Consolidation needs to be a major tool for reform in 2010. Downsizing county government would result in establishing two critical items: financial stability and operational efficiencies. One example would be the discussed consolidation of the Assessor, Recorder of Deeds and the Treasurer's offices as their functions are interrelated and could be best served within one department/office. A legitimate strategic plan would be a major facet in realizing this ultimate goal. Upgrading technology and operations will lead to major cost reductions as county government has been behind the curve in these areas. By bringing in these upgrades, it will result in the reduction of personnel needed to administer these operations and services and that's where the real savings will occur with the elimination of unnecessary salaries and benefits.
Q. Is there more or less corruption in county government than is commonly perceived? What needs to be done to root it out completely?
Maher: County taxpayers are flat out of patience with the mismanagement, waste, and corruption that has poisoned county government. We must raise the ethical standards for Cook County officials. Elected officials must be held accountable for their actions. As president of the Orland FPD I enacted a first of it's kind ethics ordinance to stamp out pay-to-play politics by placing strict limits on campaign contributions from OFPD contractors. Additionally while president of the OFPD we hired the first ever Human Resources director to ensure a fair hiring system without outside political influence. As Cook County Commissioner I will continue with these efforts to ensure ethical government for the people of Cook County.
Gorman: In politics perception is reality more times than not. County government has had it share of controversies regarding its hiring practices and contracts process. I support the federal monitor program of overseeing Cook County Government hiring and I will remain vigilant in providing the Compliance Officer with all the needed tools to address questionable hiring practices within County Government. It seems more times than not that the current administration does not promote an environment of compliance and reform. The greatest impact on this issue would be for voters to remove the current administration which they did back in the primary election. Setting the election issue aside, I sponsored an ordinance amendment [09-O-65] which passed on September 16, 2009 that calls for anyone doing business or attempting to do business with the county must disclose any familial relationship with any elected officials [state, county or municipality] which means anyone applying for employment or contract services must disclose if any relative held elective office. It also requires an elected official to disclose any relatives working for the county making in excess of $50,000. This will result in more transparency. I will continue to review and amend this ordinance as potential issues are brought to light.