Less than a month after he muscled through a huge tax hike, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger has reportedly given his cousin a double digit raise. That cousin is Donna Dunnings, the county’s Chief Financial Officer.

As he tried to win his tax hike, Stroger claimed the county was pinching every penny. Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin says that’s when board members spotted Dunnings’ pay bump.

SUFFREDIN: The raise was actually in the budget.

But Stroger told commissioners don’t worry.

SUFFREDIN: The president had indicated she would not take that salary.

Apparently…

SUFFREDIN: They changed their mind.

Suffredin says $160,000 for the CFO of a $3-billion government is fair.

SUFFREDIN: Not an outrageous salary.

The problem is how it was done.

SUFFREDIN: They don’t tell you that, it has to be uncovered.

Which Suffredin says the county needs to regain the public’s trust.

SUFFREDIN: and each time there’s a misstep like this it undermines that confidence.

President Stroger new spokesperson, a childhood-friend, has not return repeated calls for comment.