CHICAGO, IL — Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica (R-16) issued the following statement regarding the recent health bureau budget for Cook County, which will be the main topic at today’s Cook County Board meeting:

“In terms of promoting transparency and truth in budgeting and taxation, the health bureau budget falls short.

“The county shelled out taxpayer funds for a study by Integrated Clinical Solutions, Inc. but failed to include the cost of matching pension payments, risk management, cost of litigation defense, and depreciation and per-square-foot cost of facilities.

“In reality, the health bureau cost per-patient-bed, or per-patient visit, is lower than it really is.

“By failing to include these $175 million in additional costs, they are presenting a false and incomplete picture to the taxpayers.

“It only makes sense if all health bureau cost are included — these cost are currently missing from the fiscal year budget for 2010 and the five year plan.”