County board sets preliminary levy, talks administrator transition

Property taxes, the 2020 budget and the future of how county government operates were among the key talking points today during a busy meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.  

During today’s meeting, the commissioners agreed to set the 2020 levy at an increase of just over six percent from 2019. The 6.05 percent increase in the levy cannot exceed this amount when a final levy is set later this year, though it can be lowered.

There was a lengthy discussion about the impact on local taxpayers by raising the levy by more than six percent. To alleviate some of the pressure on local taxpayers, Commissioner Bobby Deschampe made a motion to set the preliminary levy at 4.75 percent to, as he described the situation, provide a break to local taxpayers.

The other members of the county board agreed with the reasoning behind Deschampe’s motion, but noted that the levy can be lowered in December and not raised. Setting the levy below five percent could put the county in a tight spot should unforeseen expenses arise, the majority of the board agreed. Deschampe’s motion failed on a 3-2 vote, with Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk supporting.

Also regarding the 2020 budget, a Truth in Taxation meeting was set for Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. in the commissioners’ room at the courthouse.

County Administrator
In more news from today, the commissioners had a lengthy discussion about the ‘board-administrator’ form of government and if it will continue in Cook County with the departure of Administrator Jeff Cadwell.  At a special meeting Sept. 17, the board agreed to seek out a list of outside consulting firms that could advise the county board on the right direction moving forward. The board continued this discussion today but ultimately did not take action to hire a new county administrator or appoint an interim one. They also did not agree to officially hire an outside consulting firm, though they did continue that part of the discussion.

Cadwell submitted his letter of resignation to the county Sept. 10. His resignation was officially accepted by the county board during the special meeting last week.

The county board, with Cadwell’s support, made contact with multiple public administration consulting firms in Minnesota to assist with the next steps moving forward.  

County Attorney Molly Hicken said today during the board meeting that there could be an interim county administrator until a choice is made to replace Cadwell or change the way local government operates.

Hicken said some of the pressing issues for the county at the current time include short-term rental classification, airport funding and projects, coordination of city-county shared contracts and federal PILT payments for land within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. A county administrator will be play a key role in these discussions for the remainder of 2019, Hicken said.

In addition, Hicken said someone at the county level needs to be able to communicate with staff from the highway department as this has been the job of the administrator. Hicken suggested Cook County Human Resources Specialist Pamela Dixon for at least the short term to fill this role.

The board will resume this conversation at 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10 during a special meeting of the county board.