Cook County Board President Proposes Deep Budget Cuts

Cook County Board President Proposes Deep Budget Cuts

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Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is proposing deep cuts to the county budget. And it the justice system the hardest. Preckwinkle is looking to consolidate services, reduce vacancies, and close two court branches to make up for the loss of $200 million in revenue from the repeal of the sweetened-beverage tax. Each county department is facing reductions but the most layoffs are hitting the chief judge and the sheriff — 85 positions for the chief judge and 206 for the sheriff, according to Preckwinkle’s office. Sheriff Tom Dart’s senior policy advisor Cara Smith says the cuts would be devastating.