Former CPS CEO Paul Vallas and Cook County Comm. Brandon Johnson are running for Chicago mayor. [Provided photo for Vallas, Colin Boyle/Block Club for Johnson]

A new Chicago Index survey shows public safety, schools and transit matter most to likely voters and an increase in name recognition for Cook County Comm. Brandon Johnson (D-1) and former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas in the upcoming mayoral election. 

The survey, administered by The Chicago Index, in conjunction with the Colorado-based firm Polco, collected answers between Feb. 9 and 20 from 1,332 people who said they lived in Chicago. The survey was weighted to better reflect disparities in the actual demographics of those who responded to the survey. The survey’s weighting was applied to demographic metrics such as race, gender, area of residence and housing tenure. Its margin of error is 3 percent.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners on Thursday swiftly and unanimously approved a resolution related to property tax administration software that sparked debate and passed with several detractors at Wednesday’s Technology and Innovation Committee meeting.

A measure that would allow the Chicago Zoological Society to raise ticket prices and parking rates at the Brookfield Zoo to support the zoo’s budget was referred to committee during Tuesday’s Cook County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners meeting.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved a measure Thursday that will compare the costs involved in maintaining or merging two software systems used for property tax administration. Meanwhile, a measure that would allow ticket prices and parking rates to increase at Brookfield Zoo will be heard in a Forest Preserve District committee. Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin gave her annual State of the City Treasurer’s Office address Thursday. And state officials gave an initial OK to the temporary Chicago casino. 

Comm. Alma Anaya (D-7) speaks about a proposal to create a countywide property tax relief loan program during a Board of Commissioners meeting Dec. 15. [Cook County Board of Commissioners livestream]

The Cook County Board of Commissioners is considering creating a program to provide relief to homeowners who have seen their property taxes increase tremendously in the past year. Three commissioners are sponsoring a piece of legislation expected to be tweaked in the county’s finance committee.

Chicago Public Health Comm. Allison Arwady speaks during a press conference [File] 

The City Council Committee on Health and Human Relations will hear an update on the city’s COVID-19 response from Public Health Comm. Allison Arwady and discuss funding citywide programs to fight HIV and AIDS among the city’s Black population during a Monday meeting. 

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle speaks before the County Board of Commissioners following its vote to approve the county budget Thursday. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved the county’s annual budget for 2023 by a unanimous 17-0 vote during a special meeting Thursday. The full board’s approval of the budget came after the spending plan passed the County Finance Committee by the same margin with more than two dozen amendments.

Democrat Maggie Trevor, left, faced Republican Matt Podgorski for the District 9 seat on the Cook County Commission [Courtesy photos]

The number of Republicans serving on the Cook County Board of Commissioners will soon fall to just one after results for a close contest in District 9 flipped the seat for a Democrat Tuesday evening.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle gives her 2023 budget address during a special board of commissioners meeting in October [Cook County Board of Commissioners livestream]

The Cook County Board of Commissioners could approve the county’s annual budget as soon as Thursday.

A special meeting of the board and the Cook County Finance Committee are both scheduled for Nov. 17 at 9 a.m. to act on the 2023 budget. The finance committee must approve the budget before it goes for a vote before the full 17-member board.

Delayed property tax bills finally became available Tuesday, a day after a study by the county assessor said Board of Review appeals increased the tax burden on homeowners. Meanwhile, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced her signature Invest South/West program would expand its scope to investments for residential developments.

The Board of Commissioners for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago convenes for a meeting Nov. 3. [MWRD Livestream]

In addition to countywide wins for Cook County Democrats in the 2022 midterm elections, Democrats also performed a clean sweep of all four open seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD).

The MWRD, which is responsible for protecting area waterways and Lake Michigan, treating wastewater and providing stormwater management for Chicago and suburban Cook County, usually has at least three seats up for election on its nine-member board each cycle as board members serve staggered six-year terms.

CTA President Dorval Carter Jr., right, speaks before the City Council Committee on Transportation and Public Way Thursday [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

Aldermen on Thursday conveyed their concerns about Chicago Transit Authority public safety, cleanliness and timeliness to CTA President Dorval Carter Jr. during a hearing before the Committee on Transportation and Public Way.

From left, Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17), Matt Podgorski and Josina Morita. [Courtesy photos]

While almost all Democratic incumbents on the Cook County Board of Commissioners won reelection Tuesday, the board’s two Republican-held seats had close races to retain the small sliver of conservative representation on the board.

Voters approved a tax increase for the Cook County Forest Preserve District this election to shore up the district’s finances. [Facebook/Cook County Forest Preserve District]

Voters have elected to raise their own taxes to shore up funds for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and ease the district’s reliance on its reserves and reduce the likelihood of future budget holes.

The Clean Air, Clean Water, and Wildlife Habitat Protection Referendum, which raises the property tax rate for the forest preserves by one quarter of one tenth of a percent, or 0.025 percent, was approved Nov. 8 with about 67.6 percent of the voters voting “yes” as of 10:34 p.m. Tuesday.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is seen on Election Day during the 2022 primaries. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle declared victory Tuesday night in her campaign for a fourth term as the top executive in county government. By securing a fourth term, Preckwinkle is on track to become the longest serving board president since George Dunne, who served from 1969 to 1990.

In a statement issued Tuesday night, Preckwinkle said “I extend my deepest gratitude to the voters of Cook County and I’m grateful they have entrusted me to run the nation’s second-largest county in the country for the past twelve years, and look forward to all the good work that lies ahead.”

The official Cook County seal [file]

Will Cook County voters choose to raise their own taxes to help shore up funds for the county Forest Preserve District or decide instead to let it risk disrepair and budget tightness? Will county voters elect a predictably Democratic slate of candidates, or will any county races see shake-ups or surprises? Here’s a primer on what’s on the ballot in Cook County this Tuesday.

The Board of Commissioners for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago convenes for a meeting Nov. 3. [MWRD Livestream]

Four seats on the nine-member Board of Commissioners for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) are up for election Nov. 8. The board members serve staggered six-year terms and are elected at-large, meaning they represent the area as a whole and not specific districts within the MWRD.

Interim Inspector General Steven E. Cyranoski speaks to Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17) during a hearing Oct. 25. [Cook County Finance Committee Livestream]

During an Oct. 25 budget hearing before the Cook County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee, Interim Inspector General Steven E. Cyranoski told commissioners the number of complaints received by the Office of the Independent Inspector General continues to increase each year as the number of staff in the office is proposed to stay flat in 2023.

Voters could approve a tax increase for the Cook County Forest Preserve District this election to shore up the district’s finances. [Facebook/Cook County Forest Preserve District]

Advocates spent more than $1.5 million in the final months leading up to the midterm elections to promote a ballot question which aims to raise taxes and bring in more revenue for the Cook County Forest Preserve District.