Cook County begins 2026 budget deliberations; commissioners seek clearer trends and departmental priorities

County staff presented a summary of department budget changes for the 2026 cycle on Oct. 21 and outlined a schedule of remaining meetings leading to a final budget decision on Dec. 16.

Administrator David Treble and finance staff said they provided two summary documents: a side‑by‑side listing of expenses, revenues, net levy and FTEs and a second summary in an alternate format. Staff confirmed Public Health & Human Services has 35 FTEs and noted that some revenues for MIS are recorded into a reserve used for infrastructure rather than the base operating budget.

Staff described the schedule for remaining budget work: additional committee and board discussions are scheduled Oct. 28 and Nov. 12, with Dec. 2 held as an optional extra meeting and Dec. 16 as the target date for final action on the budget.

Commissioners asked for more narrative context and longer trend lines to explain year‑to‑year changes. Several requested that departments supply one area they would cut and one area they would expand if given additional funds, and some commissioners proposed that departments run a scenario showing a uniform percentage reduction to identify priorities. Commissioners discussed the distinction between mandated services and discretionary programs and emphasized that mandated services should be preserved where possible.

Commissioners also discussed broader fiscal risks, including potential state or federal changes that could reduce county revenue in coming years (payment in lieu of taxes and other transfers were mentioned). Several commissioners said they wanted departments to identify cost‑saving options and to return clearer, evidence‑based justifications for proposed increases in staffing or moving part‑time roles to full time.

No votes were taken; staff asked departments to provide additional detail and to return with revised information for the next round of meetings.