(As published in Crain’s Chicago Business, March 2, 2004)

In February, the Cook County Board of Commissioners achieved a feat that was almost unthinkable just a few short weeks ago: passing a county budget without any tax increases or any of the massive borrowing sought by President Todd Stroger’s administration. Make no mistake, this is a victory for the taxpayers of Cook County. But it is only the beginning.

The county’s budget remains bloated, and our taxes are too high. The revenue figures used in the most recent budget will certainly come back to bite us soon enough. It is for these reasons that I am proposing the following steps to streamline the budget, provide tax relief and usher in a new era of transparency in county government.

First, I have proposed a resolution that would require the county to put its check register online. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once said, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.” Well, it’s time to do some housecleaning.

Secondly, in June, I will propose a repeal of last year’s sales tax increase. The last thing any employer needs in a recession is the added burden of high taxes.

Finally, at the next County Board meeting, on Wednesday, I will propose a bipartisan commission to investigate and identify waste, fraud and abuse within the county budget. Let’s assemble a panel of representatives from the business community, good government groups and charitable organizations to comb through our budget and root out the waste.

Reform cannot come soon enough here in Cook County, but as I have learned, it is a slow, arduous fight. But as our recent budget victory showed, the reformers on the County Board will not go gently into the night.

By Tony Peraica
Cook County commissioner, 16th District
Chicago