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Missed Midnight Deadline Could Shut Down County Government; Cook County Board Facing Friday Budget DeadlineNBC5 ChicagoFebruary 29, 2008Cook County leaders are facing a Friday midnight deadline to pass a budget or see county services shut down. Commissioners adjourned a heated Thursday night meeting without passing a budget. NBC5's Rob Elgas reported that commissioners denied an amendment that would have reduced the county's operations by 15 percent. Some commissioners said that was the last measure that would have avoided a county-wide shutdown. "You can't sit here the day before the deadline and play chicken with people who need hospital care, with people who need to be locked up, with people who need to watch them in the lockup," said Cook County Commissioner Peter Silvestri. "With people who need the county services that we provide." Earlier in the day, NBC5 political reporter Mary Ann Ahern reported
that a screaming match erupted between Cook County Board President Todd
Stroger and Commissioner Mike Quigley. "Excuse me, sir -- I think I've talked to every commissioner!" Stroger shot back. "It was 2 percent (sales tax hike) or nothing!" Quigley said. "And now you've got a compromise … " "You haven't asked for anything!" Stroger replied. Stroger told reporters that they should ask commissioners why a budget compromise hadn't been reached. "You think I'm running this by myself? There are 17 people out there!" Stroger said. "Why don't you go talk to them, and tell them, 'We know what you're supposed to do -- your legislators. Legislate!' Stop asking me all the time how come I'm not doing it!" Ahern reported that the board has made little progress in balancing its budget, and there were threats of 13 percent across-the-board cuts. Commissioner Larry Suffredin said he would approve a three-quarters-of-1-percent sales tax hike, if he got some guarantees. "That's a lot of money, it seemed to me," Suffredin said. "It was a great offer. It was a great offer, and it was rejected." Suffredin added that the rejection told him that some fellow commissioners wanted a shutdown. The bad blood extended to Cook County Board Finance Chairman John Daley, who Ahern said has heard enough from critics like Commissioner Tony Peraica, a Republican, who Daley accused of grandstanding. "I will deal with you out of this room," Daley said. "When you run for (Cook County) state's attorney, believe me, I will." Stroger said he was also frustrated by the lack of a compromise. "It doesn't matter what I do right," Stroger said. "We've done a lot of things right -- we can show you on paper what we've done right. But, being Todd Stroger means that there is going to be a certain amount of people who are going to be against me."
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