March 31, 2011
Heeding the Civic Federation’s warnings about the dangers of borrowing hundreds of millions of dollars to pay for operating expenses, in 2009 the Cook County Board of Commissioners followed Federation recommendations and cut expenses to balance its FY2009 budget. The Federation’s analysis of the budget cautioned that the board’s plan to borrow money to make up a budgetary shortfall in lieu of reducing operating expenses was irresponsible and a bad deal for taxpayers. Through testimony and letters to the editor, the Civic Federation emphasized the importance of avoiding unnecessary borrowing, especially less than one year after the County enacted a one percentage point sales tax increase.