Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart takes questions from commissioners at his annual budget hearing

At his annual budget hearing Wednesday, Cook County  Sheriff Tom Dart told county commissioners the Department's latest initiative to provide his deputies aerial support with helicopters is producing strong results while warning the "wild card" is overtime costs due to local townships and villages struggling to properly fund their police departments.

Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke fields questions from county commissioners as she outlines priorities for next year

Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke said during a 2026 budget hearing Wednesday her office will prioritize violent crime and domestic violence cases but warned county commissioners she doesn’t have the staffing levels and infrastructure needed to handle growing workloads in the coming year.

Cook County Health CEO Erik Mikaitis speaks at a budget hearing Oct. 28, 2025. [Livestream]

During a budget hearing Tuesday, Cook County commissioners questioned leaders of the health and hospital system about how it will continue to care for patients amid federal health cuts that will strain the system’s budget.

The Cook County Finance Committee meets for budget hearings on Oct. 27, 2025. [Livestream]

Cook County commissioners on Monday kicked off their 2026 budget hearings with an overview of the county government’s finances and threats of federal grant losses from the County Bureau of Finance and the Offices Under the President (OUP). 

Earlier this month, County Board President Toni Preckwinkle proposed a $10.01 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, a small 0.7 percent, or $71.8 million, increase over this year’s budget. The budget recommendation closes a $211.4 million gap that is somewhat evenly split between the General Fund and the Health Enterprise Fund and was closed through a combination of higher-than-expected revenue, one-time unassigned fund transfers and labor savings. 

A vehicle parked in a Chicago bike lane. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

The city’s proposed expansion of its Smart Streets pilot program is estimated to net the city millions of extra dollars next year by lengthening the geographic boundaries and increasing the number of infractions that are enforced.

Chief Information Officer Nick Lucius answers questions from Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) during a budget hearing on Oct. 22, 2025. [Livestream]

Alderpeople asked about how to modernize the city’s digital services to save costs and make the public’s experience more akin to private sector apps during a 2026 budget hearing with the Department of Technology and Innovation (DTI) last week.

Cook County Comm. Donna Miller (D-6) speaks about her Violence Against Women Task Force resolution at a board meeting on Oct. 23, 2025. [Livestream]

A group of Cook County Commissioners last week introduced a resolution creating a joint county-city of Chicago task force to study and recommend policies surrounding violence against women.

Aviation Comm. Michael McMurray, third from left, testifies at a budget hearing on Oct. 23, 2025. [Livestream]

Alderpeople asked the leader of the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) about the possibility of installing slot machines at the city’s airports and the impact of the government shutdown during its 2026 budget hearing Thursday.

Water Management Comm. Randy Conner answers questions from Ald. Bill Conway (34) during a budget hearing on Oct. 23, 2025. [Livestream]

Alderpeople asked the water department about lead service line replacement and disaster relief for recent flash floods during the department’s 2026 budget hearing Thursday.

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) is pictured at a City Council meeting on Dec. 16, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

During a presentation on the Chicago Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) proposed 2026 budget on Wednesday, department leadership fielded questions from downtown and North Side alderpeople about the impacts of multiple construction projects that have created traffic gridlock in the area.

CDOT’s budget next year is set to decrease by nearly 10 percent, or $202 million, to $1.8 billion, and the department is set to lose 95 positions to total 1,481.