With one year in office behind her, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle continues to chart a new course for the huge government agency.

            Talking to more than 150 Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce members and guests, Preckwinkle said during her brief tenure, the county has saved taxpayers millions of dollars and engaged in collaborative programs with Chicago and community organizations to educate and re-educate the workforce.

            With 75 percent of the county budget going for health care and public safety, the reduction in cost where possible remains critical to growth, Preckwinkle said Monday (Jan. 9) in Tinley Park.

            “We just closed a $315 million budget gap and with the last two budgets have saved the county $800 million.
            
        “When I took office last year, I never imagined asking 1,000 county employees to find new jobs. But we had a commitment (to save taxpayers money and run the county more efficiently).

            “We also rolled back the sales tax burden on families, one-quarter percent in 2011 and again in 2012. This is a $250 million in savings for taxpayers and has reduced the county stigma of having the highest sales tax in the country.”

            Financial challenges of the past few years have hit hard and without the “large scale industrial centers of the North and Northwest sections of the county,” recovery continues to be a bigger challenge in the southern part of Cook.

            In collaboration with the city of Chicago, the county launched new initiatives to address the regional disparity including alliances with community development agencies, community colleges and many businesses.

            “We cannot work alone,” she said.

            Oak Forest Hospital, long an inpatient care facility, will undergo major transformation. A section of the huge property has been turned over to the Cook County Forest Preserve District and the county continues to examine how the old hospital buildings can best be retrofitted for outpatient services.

            Preckwinkle introduced Bureau of Economic Development Chief Herman Brewer.

            Brewer and Preckwinkle, along with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, also have launched a partnership to save money where possible.

            “I’m grateful to Herman for picking up the challenge. We have assisted 17 businesses with the creation of (a total) 1,600 jobs. With Rahm, we have new programs in place for lower pricing (on city and county purchases).

            “We think that alone has saved about $8 million. Over the next several years, we think we can save $50 million by continuing the collaboration.”

            Preckwinkle took several questions from the audience and addressed the issue of higher business taxes in Cook than in adjacent counties.

            “We will be looking at assessment policies and the tax collection problem,” she said, acknowledging the discomforting disparity. While noting she hopes commercial property taxes can be lowered, she made it clear Cook’s will not match the lower numbers of southern collar counties.

            “This job continues to be a roller coaster ride and changes will not come overnight.” But with new leadership, including in the health system and Forest Preserve District, Cook County continues to save taxpayers money as well as address issues that have plagued taxpayers for years, she said.