UPDATE: Commissioners set levy at 11.21 percent

Update: Following a meeting of the Cook County Commissioners that lasted until approximately 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, December 20, the levy has been set at an increase of 11.21 percent.

The choice to set the levy at 11.21 percent came after the board deliberated for months – and intensely for weeks – on how to reach a balanced budget for 2017. After hours of discussion and debate on Tuesday of what reductions would best lead to a balanced budget, ultimately the board unanimously agreed to support the 11.21 percent levy, which will directly impact local tax payers who own property in Cook County. 

The Cook County Board of Commissioners has been attempting to set its 2017 levy. A preliminary levy increase of 19.9 percent had been set, but at the Tuesday, Dec. 13 meeting, commissioners voted to lower the levy by 10 percentage points, which equates to approximately $700,000.

Since then there has been much public discourse about whether that is an adequate amount. At today’s county commissioners’ meeting, citizens came out in force to share their thoughts—for and against—a return to the 19.9 percent levy for 2017.

Approximately 75 citizens crowded into the commissioners’ room and many spoke as the county board sat stoically. County Board Chair Heidi Doo-Kirk gave guidelines for the public session, restricting speakers to two minutes. The board unanimously extended the public comment period though, from the allotted 30 minutes on the agenda.

WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs provides this report.