Cook County health chief says he won't cut budget any more; Debate heats up as deadline nears

Chicago Tribune

February 11, 2005

By Mickey Ciokajlo

The logjam over Cook County's 2005 budget tightened Thursday as the head of the county's largest department said he could not trim his agency's spending any further.

With an apparent lack of support for raising taxes and a resistance to major cost-cutting, Cook County Board commissioners find themselves in a fiscal bind with a Feb. 28 deadline looming to pass a budget.

Dr. Daniel Winship, chief of the $900 million Bureau of Health Services, which accounts for nearly one-third of the county's spending plan, told commissioners that if they cut expenses, patient services would be affected.

County Board President John Stroger firmly opposed reductions in the health budget even though other elected officials have agreed to make additional cuts in their areas.

Stroger said he and his staff squeezed the health bureau's spending plan before releasing the budget last month.

"Anybody who wants to try to destroy the health-care system of this county has got me to fight," Stroger said. "And I'm going to fight you any way I can."

Commissioner Jerry Butler (D-Chicago) said he'd rather "shut this government down" than cut health-care services for the poor.

The county runs a public health department, a system of neighborhood clinics and three hospitals, including Stroger Hospital, named for the board president.

Some commissioners disputed the notion that the health system couldn't further tighten its financial belt without a major service disruption.

"We're going to have to be leaner and meaner sooner rather than later," said Commissioner Mike Quigley (D-Chicago), noting that the county's Medicaid revenues are scheduled to begin declining next year.

The 17-member board is tentatively scheduled to vote on the budget Feb. 23.

Finance Committee Chairman John Daley (D-Chicago) said there doesn't appear to be enough support for Stroger's proposed 2 percent taxes on hotel rooms and restaurant meals. That could push the budget process into the final days of February as commissioners struggle to close a $73 million shortfall.

The drawn-out budget hearings have already exposed raw nerves, and Stroger has frequently hurled insults at commissioners opposing him.

On Thursday, he accused Commissioner Tony Peraica (R-Riverside) of "talking out of both sides of your mouth" for asking Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown for jobs.

Peraica, the Lyons Township Republican committeeman, said Brown's office made him aware of five job openings in the first half of 2003. A $24,000-a-year position eventually went to his son, Marko.

"I speak only one way ... I am not a hypocrite," Peraica said. "Just because we don't want to approve his budget, he doesn't have to resort to insults and personal attacks."

Copyright 2005, Chicago Tribune Company

< Back