Observer Report – Joan Ebner Finance Committee - Budget hearing – RECORDER OF DEEDS office – Eugene Moore 10/30/07 - 10:00 am Commissioners Beavers, Butler, Daley, Gorman, Moldanado, Moreno, Murphy, Peraica, Quigley, Silvestri, and Suffredin attending. Chaired by Daley Recorder of Deeds Eugene Moore testified from a pre-written speech. His chief deputy provided almost all responses to questions, even when Mr. Moore was asked directly for a response. The office of Recorder of Deeds in Cook County is the largest such office in the country. • They process one million new recordings in a year. • A proposed shortfall will occur largely because of the downturn in the real estate market and the lower prices of homes. • 75% or more of revenue comes from real estate documents. • The office is proud to not any longer have a backlog in document processing. Questions included exploring the potential savings if the five suburban offices were closed or consolidated. Suburban offices are not only a convenience, but also help manage overflow. Some questions from commissioners seemed to be framed so as to elicit the need for increased staffing. Peraica arrived just as Silvestri’s questioning ended. He was allowed to open questioning again. He questioned the media’s report of 35% drop in revenue.
Observer Report – Joan Ebner Finance Committee – Budget hearing – CHICAGO BOARD OF ELECTIONS – Langdon Neal 10/30/07 – 11:00 am Commissioners Beavers, Butler, Daley, Gorman, Moldanado, Moreno, Murphy, Peraica, Quigley, Silvestri and Suffredin Langdon Neal testified. Lance Hoff added support. Comments made about this presidential election cycle and the impact of HAVA and other new legislation. Impacting the election will be the relatively new electronic voting, 18 days of early voting at 51 sites, dramatic shift in calendar for primary and other HAVA requirements. Commissioners Goslin, Suffredin, Silvestri, Murphy, Peraica, and Beavers asked questions eliciting the following information. • Neal expects 20% or more of voters to vote in early election and that with each election with this number growing in succeeding elections. • Chicago may eventually consolidate polling places. • Recruitment and training of high school and college age judges was highly successful. • Trouble shooters in polling places helped precincts other than their assigned one.
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Chicago has budgeted more for the coming elections because there are more early voting sites in Chicago.
Observer Report – Joan Ebner Finance Committee – Budget hearing – OFFICE OF THE ASSESSOR – James Houlihan 10/30/07 – 1:30 pm Commissioners attending included Beavers, Butler, Collins, Daley, Maldonado, Moreno, Murphy, Peraica, Schneider, Steele Jim Houlihan testified. He reported that • tax bills are finally ready to go out and 75% of Chicago tax payers will have lower bills than previously – partially due to the 7% tax cap. • Mr. Houlihan indicated that, if legislated, he would support Quigley’s push for consolidation of the offices related to property taxes. • He supports ordinances to protect green initiative. Commissioner discussion included the following issues: • imposing income test to tax bills (Quigley), the need for the Board of Review (Beavers), • why the need for Cook County classification system (Peraica), • complying with the Shakman decree (Peraica), • the possibility of a “road show” to convince the public of need for increases (Moreno), • complements for efficient office (Murphy), citizen anger with government, • a need to return to civility at all levels and • the foolishness of “no tax” pledges (Silvestri), • tax policy in Cook County is in a mess (Schneider), • the need to assess non-profit hospitals (Maldonado), • the problems generated with the frequent use of TIFs (Steele), • and the value of TIFs (Beavers).
Observer Report – Joan Ebner Finance Committee – Budget hearing – BUREAU OF TECHNOLOGY 10/30/07 – 2:30 pm Commissioners attending included Beavers, Butler, Daley, Maldonado, Moreno, Murphy, Peraica, Schneider, Steele Testimony, along with an (unreadable) PowerPoint presentation, was given by the new director - Antonio Hylton. • Mr. Hylton has been making an attempt to coordinate all technology support in County government in his Vision 2010 plan. • His department is being asked to do more, so more employees are needed. • Also, many will be retirement-eligible in the next few years.
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Job descriptions are very much out-of-date. Base salaries for skills needed are much higher in the market place. He suggested that his staff is understaffed, overworked, and highly stressed.
Beavers asked if enough money was requested to accomplish goals. Peraica asked how much federal support could be anticipated and therefore how capital expenses would be covered. The reply was that the additional bonds would be issued, increasing debt. Murphy expressed concern about the ‘brain drain’ in the department. Silvestri wondered how soon the hardware would become obsolete and was told that the data and processes would not. In the discussion, Mr. Hylton reluctantly indicated that the budget would be higher next year. The meeting was continuing when this observer left at about 4 pm.