Cook County Budget Plan Includes More Than 1,000 Layoffs

Monday, October 24, 2011 Cook County Budget Plan Includes More Than 1,000 Layoffs Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle's second budget, slated to be officially unveiled Tuesday, is expected to include layoffs of just more than 1,000 county employees, increased taxes on alcohol, tobacco and other "luxury" objects and new fees for residents of incorporated areas of the county. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Preckwinkle's budget, which will need to be approved by county commissioners before going into effect, has identified $110 million in savings. The budget also manages to sustain a campaign promise that Preckwinkle made: a quarter-sent reduction of the county's sales tax beginning Jan. 1. PHOTOS: 5 Tons Of Pot Seized In Massive Indiana Bust WATCH: Nurses Protest City Hall, Emanuel Stands His Ground Report: Chicago Cop Who Shot 3 Suspects Under FBI Investigation WATCH: Man Killed By Masked Gunman At His Birthday Party Jailed Occupy Chicago Protesters Describe Harsh Treatment By Police, Plan To Picket Rahm Emanuel's Office BLOG POSTS Dave Scheidt: Growing Up, One Comic Book at a Time Comic books were my birthright. I grew up with comics even before I could actually even read them. Mark Cassello: Occupy Chicago Petitions Rahm Emanuel Despite the onset of cold, rainy weather, Occupy Chicago persists. The Occupy movement worldwide is gaining breadth and strength as best practices are developed and shared across the Occupy community. It is a movement that Mayor Emanuel cannot simply ignore or arrest out of existence. Paul Klein: Good Weekend for Good Art Howard Kissel: Another 'Follies' This is not a lavish production, but the lack of splash only strengthens the final 20 minutes in which the marital follies of the two couples are presented in the manner of an old-fashioned "Follies." Locke Bowman: Chicago Ought to Change the Standard Ending to That Old Wrongful Conviction Story Behind each wrongful conviction lie broken lives and shattered dreams. Each one represents a serious and substantial failure of law enforcement: the wrong person locked up; the actual perpetrator at large.

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