[remote or in person] Finance Committee

Cook County Board of Commissioners
Finance
Politics

Wednesday, May 14, 2025
9:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. CDT

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118 N Clark St Chicago 60602 (Directions)

Cook County Building Board Room - 5th Floor

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Other notes and pre-research resources -This day the committee has scheduled a public hearing about item from their last meeting #: #25-2339, Proposed Resolution to Provide Equity Fund Grant Award to Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS).

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Naeemah Legair

The board approved Resolution 25-2339 to award a $850,000 grant to Reaching Across Illinois Library System to design and implement Illinois’ Digital Navigator Network program. The proposed program intended to equip residents of disadvantaged communities digital literacy skills.

View notes
Live reporting by Anson Tong

The board approved Resolution 25-2339 to award a $850,000 grant to Reaching Across Illinois Library System to design and implement Illinois’ Digital Navigator Network program. The proposed program intended to equip residents of disadvantaged communities digital literacy skills.

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@CHIdocumenters You can find the agenda here: cook-county.legistar.com/DepartmentDeta…
cook-county.legistar.com/DepartmentDeta…
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@CHIdocumenters The meeting has begun with roll call.
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@CHIdocumenters To start off, there are 5 public speakers present.
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@CHIdocumenters The first public commenter is Christal Beyer, the Executive Director of Markham Public Library. Markham is in the south suburbs of Cook County. She is here to talk about digital equity and inclusion and the role that the library can play in providing Internet access.
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@CHIdocumenters She asks for support of 25-2339 (pictured below).
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@CHIdocumenters The second public speaker is speaking on behalf of Niles Public Library and is also speaking in support of Item 25-2339 and digital equity in a time when libraries are under attack at the national level. He says that the need for digital services at libraries is urgent.
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@CHIdocumenters Public speaker #3 is Anne Slaughter, Director of Technology Services at Reaching Across the Illinois Library System (RAILS). She is discussing the impact of previous digital equity initiatives across the county. Hotspots and technology classes are in high demand.
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@CHIdocumenters She calls the proposal a landmark collaboration between libraries and the county government and believes it will be adaptable to many locales.
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@CHIdocumenters The fourth public speaker is Monica Harris, the Executive Director of RAILS. RAILS serves more than 1200 public, private, school, and university libraries across northern Illinois. She acknowledges current threats to library funding and access to information.
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@CHIdocumenters The final public commenter is Skye Lavin, a manager at the Forest Park Public Library. The library is a recipient of a previous digital grant. The library "is a lifeline" and Lavin notes seeing many people coming in scared and trying to change their lives for the better.
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@CHIdocumenters There is a motion to allow remote participation in this meeting.
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@CHIdocumenters The next item on the agenda is the need for approval of the minutes from the meeting of 04/09/2025.
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@CHIdocumenters There is a motion to approve the committee meeting minutes (Item 25-2711). The motion carries.
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@CHIdocumenters There is a motion to approve the following items:
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@CHIdocumenters Court Orders, Special Court Orders, Proposed Settlements, Workers' Compensation Settlement Reports, Workers' Compensation Claims Payment Reports, Quarterly Litigation Disbursement Report, Patient/Arrestee Claims Report, Self-Insurance Claims Report, and Claims Recovery Settlement
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@CHIdocumenters There are 14 ayes and 3 excused absences.
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@CHIdocumenters There is a motion to receive and file Items 25-2679 and 25-1169 which are the Comptrollers Report and the Cook County Health Report respectively.
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@CHIdocumenters Now there is a fund and state revenues update being read out by Syril Thomas, Deputy Comptroller.
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@CHIdocumenters Next Scott Spencer, Chief Financial Officer of Cook County Health (CCH), is reporting on CCH.
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@CHIdocumenters He notes the end of Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) in July.
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@CHIdocumenters In response to a question about potential cuts to Medicaid, he notes that there is more uncertainty than certainty right now.
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@CHIdocumenters Now Lanetta Haynes Turner, Chief of Staff for the President, is presenting on the Equity Fund Taskforce.
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@CHIdocumenters The advisory board has 40+ members and 30+ supportive partners including the commissioners and their staff.
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@CHIdocumenters
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@CHIdocumenters From inception to April 30, 2025, Task Force initiative programs have spent 22.6% of total allocation.
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@CHIdocumenters
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@CHIdocumenters Next, Kyla Williams-Tate, Director of Digital Equity, is presenting about the Cook County Digital Equity Action Plan
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@CHIdocumenters She notes the centrality of libraries in this plan. The plan is organized around access, confidence, safety, and infrastructure.
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@CHIdocumenters Williams-Tate defines "digital navigators" as trusted guides who assist community members with support for accessing affordable and appropriate connectivity and digital skills.
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@CHIdocumenters Libraries are essential digital navigators to their constituencies. They provide free Internet to people without home access and library staff support and train residents.
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@CHIdocumenters The proposed Digital Navigator Network would redefine digital navigation as a systemic, community-based function. Examples of potential initiatives include the expansion of wifi access, upgrading computers and software, and more digital skills training.
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@CHIdocumenters The next presenter is Avik Das, Executive Director of the Cook County Justice Advisory Council (JAC).
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@CHIdocumenters JAC investments focus on violence prevention and reduction, reentry, and capacity building.
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@CHIdocumenters The next speaker is Jessica Caffrey, Executive Director of the Cook County Land Bank Authority.
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@CHIdocumenters Lanetta Haynes Turner notes that the Equity Fund work continues to be critical. She says that when or if they have to pivot, they will do so in a deliberative way.
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@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Degnen asks what "equity and grantmaking" refers to. Haynes Turner says there are two streams. One looks at existing grantmaking like the JAC and how it can be more equitable. The RFP process involves a lot of paperwork right now, and they are working on streamlining
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@CHIdocumenters One example of work here is allowing grantees to advance the money. Other grants are focused on building out infrastructure and helping organizations with their back office work.
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@CHIdocumenters Haynes Turner notes that some grants may appear to not have many expenditures yet because they are ramping up. The grants have a cyclical nature and then grantees have to seek reimbursements.
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@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Degnen then asks about participatory budgeting and who gets to participate in it. Haynes Turner notes that it is a pilot because the county has never done a participatory budget process before.
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@CHIdocumenters It is only for the Equity Fund spending plan that will be brought in front of the board in October.
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@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Degnen asks how much money will be in the participatory budgeting process and Haynes Turner says this has not been finalized yet. The process will involve task force members and community-affected members.
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@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Degnen asks about performance metrics. Haynes Turner notes that they already report on performance metrics and these already exist. In terms of the Equity Fund specifically, they are looking forward longer-term on equity impacts which can be harder to measure.
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@CHIdocumenters You can look at the ROI report and see the goals of a JAC grantee, number of site visits, etc. already. Many of the metrics exist and are already available.
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@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Degnen clarifies whether this only applies to JAC or also the Equity Fund. Haynes Turner confirms that outputs and metrics are all available.
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@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Degnen inquires about parsing the impact of various investments and initiatives. For example, when it comes to gun violence prevention, in theory the city of Chicago, the state, and the county can all argue that they've contributed.
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@CHIdocumenters Haynes Turner says it's a good question and that it's ultimately about building out the broader ecosystem.
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@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Lowry asks, with regards to the 40 grantees last year, whether there can be follow-up a year afterwards. Haynes Turner acknowledges the importance of long-term impact and that it takes time and more money to reach goals.
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@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Vasquez asks about leadership opportunities for youth in the Equity Fund's work. Haynes Turner says that there are youth who are recipients of programs and services. The task force itself is 18+. Some partners bring the voice of the youth to the table.
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@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Vasquez asks about the Land Bank's work with commercial and mixed-use property developers. Jessica Caffrey notes that they are vacant. She says that many commercial properties now have tenants and are working on the strategy to acquire those properties.
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@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Aguilar inquires about evaluating return on investment. Haynes Turner notes that it can be hard to do that in the ways that some of the commissioners are looking for. She points out that the grants are often a fraction of the total budget and grants are cyclical.
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@CHIdocumenters Haynes Turner clarifies that ARPA dollars and Equity Fund dollars operate separately. She cites the guaranteed income program as an indicator that funds are used for what they are allocated for.
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@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Morrison reiterates that public libraries are a lifeline for youth. He emphasizes that the federal defunding of museums, libraries, and zoos is not aligned with what the public actually wants.
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@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Trevor asks for specific examples of metrics. Haynes Turner responds that they track how many people they're serving, alternative funding sources.
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@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Stamps wants to speak specifically to the RAILS program. She states that wifi is an essential utility like gas or water in the home.
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@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Stamps notes that it's an important time to protect literacy and to protect residents. Libraries are places where people are trying to make their own lives better.
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@CHIdocumenters There is a motion to receive and file Item 25-2781 and approve Item 25-2339.
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@CHIdocumenters There are 13 ayes and 4 absent.
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@CHIdocumenters There is a motion to accept the substitute of 25-1754.
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@CHIdocumenters There is a motion to approve Item 25-1754.
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@CHIdocumenters There is a presentation on Item 25-2405.
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@CHIdocumenters John Hourihane, Chief Financial Officer of Cook County State's Attorney Office, presents. He answers a question about separating funds—-the special purpose fund will help them to identify the amount of money that came in and how it was used in fraud cases.
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@CHIdocumenters In 2025, they expect more than $2M in collections.
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@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Anaya asks about the amount listed in the resolution. CFO Hourihane confirms that that is the 2024 amount collected.
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@CHIdocumenters There is a motion to approve Item 25-2405.
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@CHIdocumenters There are 13 ayes.
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@CHIdocumenters There is a motion to adjourn. The meeting ends.
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Cook County Board of Commissioners

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County Commissioners are elected officials who oversee county activities and work to ensure that citizen concerns are met, federal and state requirements are fulfilled, and county operations run smoothly. The Cook County Board of Commissioners is the governing board and legislative body of the county. It is comprised of 17 Commissioners, each serving a four-year term and is elected from single member districts. Each district represents approximately 300,000 residents. The Board also operates approximately 40 committees and subcommittees chaired by members of Board of Commissioners.

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