“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.”

“This is an important step forward for Cook County taxpayers, who are struggling to make ends meet amidst rising unemployment and a growing tax burden.

“But it is only a first step.

“In the coming months I plan to introduce additional tax relief measures, including an ordinance to fully repeal the Stroger sales tax and an ordinance that would require a supermajority vote of the county board to raise taxes and fees on the people and employers of Cook County.

“The overtaxation and lack of accountability offered by Cook County government has failed the taxpayers for far too long. It’s time for a change, and I pledge to continue our fight for this honest reform.”

For example, Parker cites the fact that “more than $527,000 went to pay elevator operators at various county locations” or that “$119,000 is reserved for two marble polishers. And more than $800,000 goes to pay 17 window washers.”

While the Sheriff’s office cites outdated job descriptions for “unionized” employees, Parker highlights Commissioner Peraica’s push for an audit of these job descriptions:

…to the average citizen, it appears the county is paying people to push buttons in elevators, underscoring the need for a long-sought after audit of county employees’ job descriptions, says Commissioner Tony Peraica.

“You have this entire budget that has fiction and fraudulent job descriptions throughout, that does not reflect the work being done in those positions,” he says.

But commissioners have delayed a comprehensive audit for several years, citing its $2 million price tag.

Peraica says the discrepancy in job titles versus job duties also presents compliance problems with Shakman decrees, court orders that bar some public employees to be hired based on political factors.

“There is a difference in determining what are jobs that are not covered by the Shakman decree, and jobs that are,” Peraica says.”

Click here to read the full story.

Score a victory for transparency.

And here’s to hoping that this transparency spurs more stories like the one below, in which ABC 7 Chicago’s Chuck Goudie uses this online check register to identify questionable expenditures of your tax dollars:

At today’s Cook County Board meeting, sparks flew between Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Joe Berrios — and County Assessor Jim Houlihan, who has alleged that Berrios plans to delay the tax bills until after November 2.

The Daily Herald reports:

Houlihan has charged that, under the political influence of Berrios, who is also head of the Cook County Democratic Party, the Board of Review is dragging its feet on preparing the tax bills in an attempt to avert a potential tax revolt before the election.

Houlihan is retiring from politics, while Berrios is the Democratic nominee to replace him in the fall general election.

Rogers and Berrios charged that the bills were running late because of flaws in the way Houlihan was doing reassessments to follow Cook’s new two-part tax structure calling for homes to be taxed at 10 percent of market value and commercial real estate at 25 percent. Houlihan refuted those charges, calling them “reckless” and “offensive.”

Houlihan has said he’ll have all assessments done May 7, in ample time for the bills to go out before Nov. 2.

The Daily Herald also reported:

Riverside Republican Commissioner Tony Peraica, an outspoken tax opponent, pledged “whatever resources are necessary … to get this job done.”

Look for this issue to continue to be discussed at County Board meetings throughout the Spring and Summer — and rest assured that Commissioner Peraica will continue to shine a bright spotlight on this vital issue.

And in the end, it will provide a more porous security net than envisioned.

What’s the average cost of installing and operating just one functioning camera? Documents show the cost is $236,000. Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica claims fraud, waste and abuse has occurred.

Those are the latest findings of an ongoing Chicago Sun-Times / NBC5 News investigation.

Read the complete stories at the Chicago Sun-Times and NBC5.