The Preckwinkle administration is beginning to map out its budget calendar. Board President Toni Preckwinkle's spokesperson, Frank Shuftan, confirmed the following dates are being discussed to hash out the FY2017 budget, but cautioned “no meeting is formally set until it is officially noticed.” 

• Friday, October 7, 2016: Planned introduction of the Cook County Budget


• Monday, October 17, 2016: Testimony from department heads begins


• Week of November 14, 2016: Final Vote

Preckwinkle released the preliminary forecast for the County budget at a press availability in late June, projecting a $174.3 million operating shortfall, a hike in expenditures, and declining revenues. She told unions at the time that layoffs were possible, and that cuts would come before revenue. “Our focus always is trying to figure out how we can reduce expenses,” she said, but everything, excluding a property tax hike, would be on the table.