Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle released a nearly $9.9 billion spending plan on Thursday. (Health News Illinois]

Preckwinkle said the plan does not include new taxes, fines or fees. 

“This strong fiscal foundation is because we have been consistent in setting priorities and making the tough decisions to enact them,” she said. “The result of these difficult decisions and hard votes by our Cook County Board of Commissioners over the years is a fiscally responsible and community-focused budget that fosters safe, thriving and healthy communities.”

Preckwinkle highlighted several health initiatives in the plan, like establishing 11 regional collaboratives to assist in behavioral health services and opening a clinical triage and stabilization center at Provident Hospital.

More than half the budget is dedicated to Cook County Health. 

Preckwinkle’s office said the system’s Medicaid managed care plan retained more members than expected, after the return of the Medicaid redetermination process following a hiatus during the pandemic.

The budget plan pauses a pandemic-era program that provides $500 a month in guaranteed income to low-income families. Preckwinkle told reporters the program will take a break, pending an independent review.

The county board will take up the proposal in the coming weeks.

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