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Now on Twitter!
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Follow Commissioner Goslin on Twitter to find out what he's been reading in the news and for live updates during County and Forest Preserve Board Meetings.
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Now on Facebook!
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Connect with Commissioner Goslin on Facebook and let him know what's on your mind!.
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2012 County Executive Budget Recommendation
| President Preckwinkle presented her 2012 budget proposal for the county this week. Department budget presentations and public hearings are scheduled over the next month.
Highlights from FY2012 Executive Budget Recommendation include:
- $100 million bond issue to support suburban highway construction and job creation.
- Reducing the jail population by 1,000 persons by December 1, 2012 through use of electronic monitoring and other tools, such as I-bonds and community-based alternatives, to realize $5 million in financial savings.
- Investing in alternatives to detention at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center to lower the detention population over two years and closing down one of the nine JTDC centers by June, 2012, for a net savings of $1.6 million in 2012.
- Centralizing the five weekend bond court locations at the Criminal Courthouse in Chicago, the County will save $1.9 million across multiple departments.
- Managed competition process to lower the cost of custodial services, where the current government workforce and potential private-sector companies will compete for the contract.
President Preckwinkle's budget proposal also include a number of new fees and taxes that fall disproportionately on suburban residents. These include charging a new fee for policing unincorporated Cook County and parking fees at suburban Courthouses.
As the budget is debated in these meetings, Commissioner Goslin is committed to protecting the interests of suburban Cook County residents and supporting efficiency in county government that will help continue the full repeal of the sales tax increase.
The complete text of the proposed FY2012 budget and President Preckwinkle's address is available online on the Cook County Budget website.
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County Budget Public Hearings
| There will be four public hearings for the Cook County Budget. The two closest to the 14th District will be:
Tuesday, November 1st at 6:30 P.M. at the Second District Courthouse, 5600 Old Orchard Rd, Conference Room 201, Skokie, IL Thursday, November 3rd at 10:00 A.M. at the County Board Room, 118 N Clark St, Rm 569, Chicago, IL If you wish to testify at these meetings, you can register at the Secretary to the Board's website. You can also register at any of the locations at the time of the meeting. For a complete schedule of public hearings and departmental budget reviews for the Cook County FY2011 Budget, please visit the county website. Commissioner Goslin encourages you to review the proposed County budget and looks forward to hearing about your thoughts and experiences at these public meetings.
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2012 FPD Executive Budget Recommendation
| At today's special meeting of the Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners, President Preckwinkle presented her FY2012 executive budget recommendation. Department presentations and public hearings will be held over the next month.
The total proposed appropriation for FY2012 is $195 million. This includes: - $58M general operating budget, a 1.5% increase from 2011
- $5.7M for Construction and Development
- $13.8M for Capital Improvements
- $10.1M for Real Estate Acquisition, including $4M in new money
- $15.5M for Brookfield Zoo (the Zoo raises $48.5M)
- $9.6M for Botanic Garden; (the Garden raises $19.8M)
In President Preckwinkle's budget address, she outlined six main objectives for the District in 2011:
- Focusing on greater accountability by implementing recommendations from the desk audit and achieving compliance with the Shakman rules
- Continuing to restore our natural forests, savannahs and prairies
- Continuing to identify and acquire key land parcels and create connections between District properties
- Expanding public outreach initiatives and educational programs, particularly for children
- Building and leveraging the District's conservation, land restoration and environmental protection work by continuing to grow our volunteer corps
- Completing a new Land Acquisition Plan, releasing a more transparent Capital Improvement Plan, and completing a plan for the District's new initiative to restore and expand its historic campgrounds
The complete text of the proposed FY2011 budget and President Preckwinkle's address is available online on the Forest Preserve District website. |
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FPD Budget Public Hearings
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As chair of the Forest Preserve District Finance Committee, Commissioner Goslin has designated three dates for public hearings, where members of the public are welcome to testify. The two closest to the 14th District will be:
- Tuesday, November 1st at 5:30 P.M. at the Second District Courthouse, 5600 Old Orchard Road, Conference Room 201, Skokie, IL
- Thursday December 1st at 2:30 P.M. at the County Board Room, 118 N Clark St, Rm 569, Chicago, IL.
If you wish to testify at either of these meetings, you can register at the Secretary to the Board's website. You can also register at any of the locations at the time of the meeting.
For a complete schedule of public hearings, please visit the FPD website
Commissioner Goslin encourages you to review the proposed FPD Budget and looks forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences at these public meetings..
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Let's
have a conversation! As always, feel free to
reply to this newsletter, send me an email or give me a call about any
Cook County issue.
Sincerely,
Gregg Goslin, Commissioner
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