Open Illinois.org

Hal Dardick posted on the Chicago Tribune news blog that,

“The health board’s proposed 2009 budget, presented this morning, includes a $103 million spending increase. Of that, $47 million would be spent to pay for both salary increases already approved by the County Board and increased costs caused by inflation, said Warren Batts, chairman of the Health and Hospitals System Board.

But the board also wants to hire 415 new employees, which County Board President Todd Stroger later said he did not anticipate.”

Earlier Kate blogged about Cook County’s total lack of transparency in making this proposed budget available for the taxpayers before it was voted on so that concerned citizens could voice their opinions.

Batts has suggested that the new revenue generated from sales tax increases could be used to fund these budget increases.

But don’t get too attached to the proposed budget–which, via Hal’s comments, I’m guessing is available at least via FOIA, but I have yet to see posted online.   Apparently a lot can change with the input of the Cook Co. Board, and its president, Todd Stroger.

I would like to know what exactly these 415 new jobs will be.  Where’s the info?  Hopefully the situation won’t be like this.

Please comment and post a link, if you find one, to this proposed budget.

Transparency hasn’t really been Cook County’s “thing” in this matter…