I think we can all relax now that the budget passed. Thanks to all the members and their phone calls to their commissioners, the Cook Count Board voted 9-8 to increase the sales tax by 1% and to also give the Bureau of Health Services to an independent board for management for the next three years. The vote on the actual budget was 10-7. The compromise which led to the deal on the final day was months in the making and appears to have been spearheaded by former public defender and commissioner Larry Suffredin. Commissioner Suffredin advocated for an independent body to manage the hospital system but many felt that was an issue that could be put off into the future. His insistence on this change and the President’s need for another vote for the tax increase is what led to the compromise. Now we have revenue and reform.
Comments are closed.