Cook commissioners clash over what they can spend
As Cook County commissioners prepare to try to pass their 2011 budget Friday — only three days ahead of a mandated deadline — they’re facing a new battle over how much to pay themselves to run their offices.
Commissioners, who previously have had a wide array of personal budgets ranging from $320,000 to $460,000, clashed Wednesday over a proposal to roll the whole $6 million into one fund and divide it equally among them.
The proposal would grant each of the 17 commissioners $350,000, to be distributed among as many as four full-time aides with full benefits.
“This would bring equity with all the commissioners,” said Chicago Democrat John Daley.
“This doesn’t bring equity,” lashed back Chicago Democrat Deborah Sims. “This brings hardship.”
Sims and Crestwood Democrat Joan Patricia Murphy pointed to how their tenure in office gave their employees more longevity, thus requiring a larger budget. Murphy also called the new proposal “crippling” for commissioners with large districts requiring multiple offices.
That point was echoed by Orland Park Republican Commissioner Liz Gorman, whose district stretches along the western edge of the county from the southwest suburbs to the area surrounding O’Hare International Airport. She said her district comprises 154 square miles, while the most densely populated Chicago district covers 12 square miles.
“I represent the same number of people as everybody else here,” responded Chicago Democrat John Fritchey.
McCook Democrat Jeffrey Tobolski, like Fritchey newly elected, said the total fund, which would come to just under $6 million at $350,000 a commissioner, should be reduced more before being divvied up. “This is the time now when we have to make those cuts,” he added.
Under the old system, Chicago Democratic Commissioner Joseph Mario Moreno’s fund grew to $460,000, as he served as president pro tem to President Todd Stroger before he lost a re-election bid last year. Daley had a personal budget of $225,000, but got $300,000 more as chairman of the finance committee.
President Toni Preckwinkle endorsed the proposal along with Daley, who said he had addressed it with each commissioner.
On Friday, the board could impose even distribution, retain the old budgeted amounts or come up with a new compromise such as a three-tiered system mentioned by Sims and Murphy.
In any case, the commissioners can’t let it bog down the budget debate. By law, the 2011 budget has to be balanced and passed by the end of February.
“We will attempt to pass the budget on Friday,” Daley said, adding that debate could extend to Saturday or even down to the wire on Monday.