Cook County Board of Commissioners
Recent News About Cook County Board of Commissioners
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Home Rules: Cook County suburbs mull if, how to respond to county's Chicago-style ordinances
Cook County communities are weighing their options to respond to actions by the Cook County Board to impose ordinances, similar to those approved earlier this year in Chicago, to mandate paid sick leave and boost the minimum wage. The suburban communities believe the state constitution gives them the power to opt out, without challenging the county's constitutional authority to pass the ordinances in the first place. -
Demolition of three Cook County Jail buildings will save taxpayers money, county says
In an effort to reduce the county's jail population and save Cook County and its taxpayers money, three buildings at the Cook County Jail will be demolished. -
Home Rules: Cook County awaits challenges to authority to mandate paid sick leave, boost min wage
Cook County has enacted ordinances, virtually identical to similar ordinances enacted earlier by the city of Chicago, requiring employers throughout the county provide paid sick leave and a higher minimum wage to employees. But did the county have the authority to do it? Opinions from the county's own State's Attorney's office said likely not. -
Home Rules: Cook County echoes Chicago on paid sick leave, min wage, frustrating suburban communities
Cook County has enacted policies - first put into place by Chicago City Hall - mandating employers provide paid sick leave and sharply boosting the minimum wage. The changes have left many suburban communities and business leaders frustrated and concerned. -
IL Supreme Court: Berrios can't block county Inspector General's investigation at Assessor's office
The state’s highest court has declared Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios must comply with subpoenas issued by the county’s Inspector General, saying a Cook County ordinance empowering the Inspector General to “detect, deter and prevent corruption, fraud, waste, mismanagement, unlawful political discrimination or misconduct in the operation of County government” can be constitutionally applied to investigations of potential misconduct in the offices of elected county officials, like Berrios. -
Taxing soda drinkers will produce new revenue, but may not produce hoped-for results
Cook County will be among the growing number of local governments across the country to slap a tax on sugary and sweetened beverages, after the Cook County Board signed off on a proposal introduced by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle to impose a special tax on those drinks as part of the county's new budget. But the tax may not necessarily produce the kinds of results sought by supporters, including reduced obesity rates and enhanced revenues, according to an analysis from The Tax Fo -
Patlak wins new four-year term as 'sole Republican' on Cook County Board of Review
An incumbent member of the board responsible for reviewing taxpayer appeals of property tax assessments, who billed himself as the sole Republican in Cook County’s property tax determination and appeals process, has secured another four years on that board. On Tuesday, voters reelected Dan Patlak, of Wheeling, to the First District seat on the Cook County Board of Review. -
November referendum looks at idea of moving Orland Township out of Cook County
A referendum on the November ballot will let residents of Orland Township explore whether the township and its communities should secede from Cook County, and decide what kind of message they want to send to Cook County leaders about the state of the county. -
Evans secures new term as Cook County's chief judge, edges Allen 129-103
Cook County’s chief judge has secured a sixth consecutive term at the helm of Illinois’ largest circuit court, after a majority of the county’s circuit judges chose him over a rival in a relatively close, closed-door vote, ending a hotly contested race which drew a rare, large amount of public input from beyond Cook County’s courthouses. -
15-year incumbent Evans faces two challengers in race for Cook County Chief Judge
Timothy Evans, a judge who has served for the last 15 years as Cook County’s top jurist, is again asking his fellow judges of the Cook County Circuit Court for another turn as the circuit’s Chief Judge. However, when the judges cast ballots next week, Evans will face at least two challengers, and possibly more, who believe the local courts need a new face at the top. -
Infrastructure council applauds Cook County's 25-year transportation plan
CHICAGO — With the introduction of a long-range transportation plan, Cook County officials have outlined priorities for the county that will impact local decisions, as well as plans across the region. -
Ideas to reduce Cook County elected officials to save money, boost effectiveness, not going away
While some ideas are moving ahead and others are on the backburner, the concept of reducing the number of the county's elected offices remains a hot topic in Cook County, as supporters believe the reforms could both save money and make the local government more effective by installing the best people for the job, rather than the most popular. -
Cook County Home Rule Tax Ordinance reform aimed at simplifying certain tax payments
CHICAGO – The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved a package of Home Rule Tax Ordinance reforms on earlier this month that the board said is aimed at providing individuals and businesses with a simplified process while improving the efficiency of the Cook County Department of Revenue. -
Class action demands Cook County refund bail bond fees retained by circuit clerk before 2016
A man who was acquitted of murder charges stemming from a 2014 Palatine bar fight has sued the offices of Cook County’s circuit clerk and treasurer, alleging they kept far too much of his bail bond fees – and he believes they likely did the same to potentially thousands of others who have posted bond in recent years. -
Ex-wife of convicted former Cook board member Moreno sues lawyers for letting feds seize Moreno's pension
The ex-wife of convicted former Cook County Commissioner Joseph Moreno, who is now serving 11 years in prison for his role in bribery and kickback schemes, has sued her former lawyers, saying legal missteps cost her Moreno’s pension, which instead was seized by the U.S. -
With legal battle over gambling machine tax ended, casino owes Cook County $3 million
After the Illinois Supreme Court refused to hear the casino owners' appeal, Cook County now has the green light to collect $3 million in unpaid taxes from Midwest Gaming, owner and operator of Des Plaines’ Rivers Casino. -
Cook County Board approves new technology to share data between the county’s justice agencies
The Cook County Board has approved the purchase of new technology to allow justice agencies within the county to share data electronically. -
Gun rights group lawsuit targets new Cook County ammo tax, says violates U.S., state constitutions
An Illinois group which advocates for the rights of gun owners has taken aim at Cook County’s taxes on the sales of firearms and ammunition, asking the courts to find the county’s taxes to be unconstitutional infringements on the Second Amendment rights of citizens in the county. On Dec. 17, Guns Save Life Inc., a group which purports to include members in Cook County and throughout Illinois, filed suit in Cook County Circuit Court. -
Appellate panel says County Board within constitutional bounds to empower Inspector General to investigate Berrios
Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios, who also serves as chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, has lost another round in court in his attempt to avoid turning over documents demanded by the county’s Inspector General as part of the IG’s investigation of allegations Berrios’ office improperly granted an assessor’s office employee a special property tax exemption. -
Cook County hires vendor for $30 million upgrade of online property tax systems
Cook County’s online property tax information system is getting a $30 million upgrade. Plano, Texas-based Tyler Technologies, the company awarded the contract, will create a system to replace the 40-year-old technology currently in place, improving tax collection and public access to property tax-related information, county officials said.