An independent Democratic member of the Cook County Board Thursday joined four Republican board members in proposing more than $50 million in spending cuts as an alternative to passing a proposed $105.7 million property-tax increase.
Commissioner Charles Bernardini of Chicago called for holding all Cook County departments to a 4.5 percent increase over their 1987 spending levels as well as major cuts in the budgets of the sheriff and county school superintendent.
These amendments to the proposed budget would chop $51.2 million from the $1.135 budget proposed last month by Board President George Dunne. Dunne`s proposed budget would require the $105.7 million increase in the property tax, on top of last year`s hike of $58.8 million.
Bernardini`s proposal follows a similar one made last week by Republicans Joseph Mathewson of Winnetka, Richard Siebel of Northbrook, Mary McDonald of Lincolnwood and Robert Gooley of Homewood. Those Republicans proposed cuts of $56.5 million and also proposed raising another $25 million from new fees. The full board has already approved other fee increases of nearly $8 million.
Two Republican state senators said Wednesday that they would ask the General Assembly to pass legislation allowing the County Board to raise county fees beyond the current statutory limits.
The Republicans contend that the $89.5 million from cuts and higher fees, coupled with increases in revenue from reassessments, would eliminate the need for any of the $105.7 million increase.
Commissioner John Stroger, a Chicago Democrat and close ally of Dunne, said Thursday that Dunne, too, will ask the legislature to allow the board to raise fees. Stroger said Dunne would ask the legislature to allow the board to raise fees to gain $45 million to $50 million. This would be twice as much as proposed by the Republicans. According to Stroger, Dunne intends to use increased fees to abate the planned property-tax hike.
Dunne, whose proposed budget is to be voted on Friday, has not disclosed his specific plans but has proposed fee hikes and a tax abatement.
If the other three suburban Republicans join their colleagues and Bernardini in calling for spending cuts, they would have to obtain the support from one other city Democrat to block much of the tax hike.
