Cook County approves increased budget including on abortions, avoids tax hikes

[November 23, 2024]  By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – The Cook County Board has unanimously approved a plan to spend nearly $10 billion in fiscal year 2025.

Board President Toni Preckwinkle said the budget invests in people without raising taxes.

“It’s an immense responsibility to put together thoughtful budgets that provide services while being mindful of our future obligations,” Preckwinkle said.

Cook County’s budget has increased from $5.2 billion in fiscal year 2018 to $9.94 billion for 2025. Cook County’s budget in 2024 was $9.26 billion.

Preckwinkle said the county was able to close a projected budget gap of $218.2 million through a combination of higher-than-expected revenue collections, like sales taxes, and expenditure reductions, like lower than anticipated health care and payroll cost.

“This budget reflects the county’s continued commitment to building a stronger, fairer and financially-secure future for all of our residents, and, for the first time, it includes a historic $2 million investment in reproductive health. This is above and beyond the essential services that Cook County Health already provides,” Preckwinkle added.

Allison Cowett, physician and medical director at Family Planning Associates, thanked the county board for the $2 million budget amendment to fund abortion providers.

Cook Country Board President Toni Preckwinkle
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“I feel privileged to live and work here. There is no better place in the country to provide abortion care,” Cowett said.

The abortion-funding amendment was sponsored by Commissioner Bridget Degnen, D-Chicago.

“So, I know that we all know that this budget really reflects our moral compass, one centered in freedom, autonomy and equity,” Degnen said.

Preckwinkle said the budget approved Thursday includes the nation’s largest publicly funded guaranteed income initiative and a program to abolish up to $1 billion of medical debt.

The budget also includes $15 million for a new Homeowner Relief Fund aimed at reimbursing property owners experiencing sharp increases in their property tax bills, as well as additional staffing for the property tax valuation division.

Illinois has a higher property tax rate than any state in the U.S. outside of New Jersey.