Feb 28, 2008 6:02 pm US/Central
County Budget Fight Continues As Deadline Looms
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Cook County Board President Todd Stroger (File)
CBS
The business of running Cook County could come to a grinding halt at midnight Friday. If commissioners can't pass a budget by then county government will be shutdown.
CBS 2's Rafael Romo the political bickering continues at the county building as of 6 p.m. Thursday, and plenty of animosity was apparent between Cook County commissioners.
One yelling match started when Commissioner Michael Quigley essentially called County Board President Todd Stroger a coward and accused him of creating a budget crisis.
"There are 17 commissioners. Do you think I'm running this by myself?" Stroger countered. "There's 17 people out there. Why don't you go talk to them?"
The Cook County Board needs to have a balanced budget before midnight Feb. 29 as mandated by state law.
But all throughout this week commissioners have lost opportunities to solve the crisis, giving way instead to paralyzing legislative wars.
"That's what's wrong with some of the people on this board," said 5th District Commissiner Deborah Sims, a Democrat. "If they don't get their way, then that means it's no way!"
A tax increase of 2 percent proposed by Stroger to fill a $234 million deficit failed and now it appears that a 13 percent cut across the board is the only option.
But county health officials are predicting doomsday if the cuts are indeed implemented.
"Whether it's heart disease, whether it's primary care, whether it's a facility or whatever; because when you're cutting things like these you're really shooting yourselves in the foot," said Dr. Robert Simon of the Cook County Bureau of Health.
But instead of solutions and compromises, there were plenty of shouting and threats between commissioners.
"Commissioner Peraica, I totally disagree with you on your budget," Commissioner John Daley (D-11th) said. "And you can have all your press conferences and I will deal with you out of this room when you run for state's attorney. Believe me, I will!"
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