Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle released the preliminary forecast for Fiscal Year 2015 during a speech at the City Club of Chicago today. Since taking office, President Preckwinkle has solved for more than $1.2 billion in combined budget deficits while at the same time returning $1.1 billion to taxpayers by rolling back the 1% County sales tax increase.

Cook County will again partner with private veterinarians to offer discounted spay and neuter services for pets in February, which is National Spay and Neuter Month. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle cited the ease of the program which provides discounts of up to $40 per procedure. It is available for up to two pets per household. “There are no coupons or bar codes to print, and there are no limitations on where this service can be performed,” Preckwinkle said.

Lobbyists reported contacting Cook County officials less in 2013, yet the number of lobbyists and their compensation was higher than any year since online filing began, according to reports submitted to Clerk David Orr’s Lobbyist Online website. Lobbyists were paid more than $2.8 million in 2013, as they attempted to influence Cook County officials on issues including staffing in the 2014 budget, the down payment assistance program, fuel tax amendment, Section 8 and multi-family housing, a solid waste ordinance and the county’s land bank, according to the reports. The total 2013 compensation

Forest Preserves of Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle today formally accepted the “Next Century Conservation Plan” for the preserves. The plan was created by a blue-ribbon commission of local leaders appointed by Preckwinkle in 2013 as part of the Forest Preserves’ centennial anniversary celebration. The Next Century Conservation Plan aims to make Cook County a national leader in urban conservation.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today announced that during the first year of the County’s car sharing program it downsized its vehicle fleet, cut mileage reimbursement and salvaged older vehicles. The measures saved the county roughly $250,000. Overall, savings were generated by employees using Zipcars and the County’s Shared Fleet of existing vehicles. Previously most of the County’s passenger vehicles were assigned to various departments, which were not being used to maximum efficiency.

After two years at the helm of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ram Raju will return to New York to lead the New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation as President. From the start, Dr. Raju knew the potential of Cook County’s system. During his time here, Dr. Raju spearheaded the County’s efforts to secure an 1115 Waiver from the federal government in order to early enroll those eligible for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act in our CountyCare program.

At their Midwest Energy Solutions Conference held in Chicago on January 15th, the MEEA gave their 2014 Inspiring Efficiency Leadership Award to Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle. The award highlights President Preckwinkle’s initiatives to establish Cook County as a world-class model of sustainability. Her administration has worked to boost energy efficiency practices throughout County government. The County has partnered with local governments, not-for-profits and businesses to make communities sustainable. With funding from the U.S.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today marked the end of the county's 2013 construction season at Lake Cook Road, a major arterial thoroughfare in the far northern suburbs that has undergone significant improvements. “In this, the centennial year of the County’s Transportation and Highways Department, I am pleased we have been able to reconstruct or improve 74 lane-miles of roadway in municipalities throughout the county,” Preckwinkle said.

GIS (Geographic Information Systems) technology allows for the visualization and understanding of geographic data as it relates to the operations of County agencies. Understanding this data allows Cook County to observe what is going on, measure an event or impact, analyze disparate data, develop plans and ultimately, help County agencies decide on a course of action as it relates to geographic locations. The Department of GIS provides geographic maps, applications and data to County agencies as well as makes GIS data and maps available to the public via web application.