Cook County taxpayers face projected $550.7 million deficit

(The Center Square) – Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has projected a budget gap of $550.7 million dollars for fiscal year 2027 in a jurisdiction where taxpayers are still waiting for property tax relief.

Preckwinkle’s announcement came in a statement released on a Wednesday night, after two years of residents being impacted by dramatic property tax increases.

The board president said her administration has done things the right way when it comes to budgeting.

“We use best practices, we spend responsibility, we pay down legacy obligations, we plan ahead and set aside money for emergencies, but the county is not immune to extraordinary outside factors like federal action or court rulings,” Preckwinkle’s statement said.

Preckwinkle said a court-ordered restriction on the use of transportation tax revenue helped drive a projected $336 million general funds budget gap.

The county’s health enterprise fund is forecast to have a $214.7 million de...