Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle won swift approval of her $10. 12 billion 2026 budget on Thursday, calling its passage a protection against President Donald Trump’s cuts. Preckwinkle made special note of the fact there is money in the budget to expand county Public Defender Sharone Mitchell’s immigration unit, which will get seven more positions next year, bringing it to 15. By adding more lawyers, county officials expect to be able to represent more clients who are in the midst of the immigration process or facing criminal prosecution and deportation. The unit, Mitchell said Wednesday, has so far represented 190 clients. Like the last several years, the 2026 budget does not include any layoffs or new taxes, fines or fees. The county has not raised its base property tax levy in nearly three decades. Avoiding those unpopular moves is a political boost for Preckwinkle and board members who are facing primary elections in March. The budget remains largely unchanged from Preckwinkle’s initial proposal in October. Commissioners will give themselves pay raises, to $102, 170 per year from $99,194, the latest such increases tied to inflation that they voted to enact starting in 2022. Finance Chairman John Daley’s salary goes up from about $105, 000 to $108, 198. Recent tweaks include roughly two dozen new positions at State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s office and new mental health and domestic violence programs. And thanks to the city’s planned record surplus of special taxing district funding, there will be nearly $20 million in new spending on homelessness, food benefits, and help for renters. Its easy passage and the “collegiality” board members celebrated stood in stark contrast to the budget struggles swirling on the other side of the City-County building, which several commissioners alluded to after quickly approving a series of amendments in the Finance Committee. Even Sean Morrison, the board’s lone Republican, supported the budget, estimating the county was in the “best fiscal position” in the state thanks to difficult pension fixes funded by a sales tax hike approved in 2015, the decision to refinance hundreds of millions in debt, and a flood of federal dollars hitting Cook County Health. The county has received a ratings upgrade every year for the last four years. But many expect the following budget to be more difficult. The 2026 spending plan will tap reserves to weather what county officials think will be stormy conditions in 2027 and beyond. Health officials predict state and federal changes could result in an estimated $400 million “negative impact” on Cook County Health. Reductions in federal Affordable Care Act tax credits could lead to more uninsured patients with limited ability to pay their bills coming to county facilities for care. New Medicaid work requirements that kick in starting in 2027 could lead to an estimated 10% of current enrollees losing coverage. Eligibility checks for Medicaid patients will also happen twice a year instead of annually, which could lead to another 5% to 12% drop in coverage. Other stresses to the safety net hospital system could also bring in more uninsured patients, leaders have warned. The county expects to lose nearly 29, 000 members in its Medicaid managed care program, CountyCare, next year. To prepare for that and other looming cuts, the board agreed to move some of the nearly $1 billion sitting in the county’s “unassigned” reserves. $65 million will go into a “grant risk mitigation fund” in case the Trump administration scales back federal grants and $55 million would go to a pension reserve. Nearly $200 million will help make up for money the county expects to lose thanks to a lawsuit first brought by the Illinois Roadbuilders in 2018. A judge is scheduled to rule in early December about whether the county improperly spent money that should have been used on transportation projects. The county spent some of that money on public safety offices they argued helped enforce traffic laws. Elsewhere in the budget, State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke won budget tweaks to add ten positions to an “in-house digital forensics unit” she argued was sorely needed for attorneys to skim through reams of video evidence. That is paid for with a reroute of money set aside for capital projects. Six other new technology positions and eight victim witness specialists assigned to domestic violence cases in the office were also added in amendments. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plans to sweep roughly $1 billion from the city’s tax increment financing districts would deliver an additional $19. 9 million windfall to the county. If that money comes through, commissioners voted to spend $5. 8 million on help for renters in court; $4. 1 million on homeless services and $10 million on food access. Another half a million dollars from Stroger Hospital’s budget will go to hosting community mental health forums for young people in suburban districts.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/20/cook-county-budget-2026-holds-line-taxes-fees-federal-cuts/
Tag: commissioners
County planners reject controversial AI data center proposed near Howell
HOWELL, MI Livingston County planners rejected a proposal for a massive $1 billion data center campus for an undisclosed tech giant to power artificial intelligence and other computing technologies. The county Planning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday, Nov. 19 to recommend the Howell Township Board deny rezoning more than 1, 000 acres in the historically rural community north of Ann Arbor. The commissioners’ unanimous vote comes a day before a large crowd of concerned residents are expected to pack Howell High School’s auditorium for the township board’s meeting, which is set for 6: 30 p. m. Thursday, Nov. 20. Township officials are expected to consider putting a moratorium in place to pause for six months any consideration or approval of data centers, as they further investigate whether there is a need for local regulations. The project continued to face pushback from many residents at Wednesday’s county planning meeting, where local residents shared concerns and frustrations. The crowd gave county planners a standing ovation for recommending the rezoning be denied. County planners also voted unanimously to recommend the Howell Township board deny a proposal to add a definition for data processing centers to the local zoning ordinance. Data center developer Randee, LLC, with its consulting firm Stantec Consulting Michigan, is working on behalf of a U. S.-founded and based Fortune 100 technology company, which they have not identified. Some residents are calling for more transparency, questioning why the tech giant behind the project has not been disclosed to the public. Several residents took issue with “tech billionaires” looking to take up land in Michigan’s rural communities. The data center developers are asking the township to conditionally rezone land north and south of Grand River Avenue to research and technology uses on the condition it would only be used for a data center. The land in question is south of Marr Road and north of Warner Road, and east of Owosso Road and west of Fleming Road. The properties are currently zoned for agricultural, single-family residential, and neighborhood service commercial uses. The firm is also eyeing adjacent land in neighboring Handy Township, which could bring the total project area closer to 1, 700 acres. Opponents are concerned about data centers’ impacts on water resources and electricity rates, and many in the crowd decried the potential loss of the area’s rural character and desire to preserve farmland. Howell resident Lyle Devine doubts that the data center would not negatively impact drinking water for his family. “Can you tell me for sure the water will be safe (to drink) for my kids?” Devine said. Gary Burkhart spoke about how there are unused or underutilized industrial sites in Michigan that are ready for redevelopment. “Why would we need to rezone anymore of our farmland?” Burkhart said. Other residents worry about the rise of artificial intelligence itself, expressing fears that many jobs will be lost. The rezoning request “is not consistent with the overall goals, objectives, and future land use intentions of the Howell Township Master Plan,” Scott Barb, the county’s planning director, said. Barb determined the data center proposal is also not consistent with the county’s vision, which calls for the preservation of agricultural lands. The developers have promised the data center would generate tax revenue and jobs and there would be opportunities to fund schools, infrastructure projects and community services. Detroit attorney Michael Vogt, who represents the data center developers, told the crowd they have heard people’s concerns, and they have offered restrictions and conditions that go beyond what local communities normally require. “We heard concerns about potential infrastructure improvements,” Vogt said. He said the developers have offered to reimburse all costs to the township for infrastructure, including water and electricity, roads and emergency services. Data center buildings would take up no more than 50% of the site, Vogt said. Buildings would be setback no less than 400 feet around the entire site. The developers have also promised to donate about 125 acres for open space conservation or parkland. He also said the developers support Howell Township approving a moratorium, because it would give the township time to consider establishing local regulations. Concerns over water usage are “incredibly serious,” he said. The developers are investigating the feasibility of using “dry cooling technology” to minimize water usage. The initial ask was for the data center to use as much as 1 million gallons of water a day. However, actual water usage would depend on what type of cooling system they pursue. The developers would also cover the cost if nearby residential wells ran dry. “We know that’s not going to happen, and put your money where your mouth is,” Vogt said. In addition, DTE Energy has indicated it will have capacity to power the proposed data center, though the exact power requirements have not yet been specified. The proposed data center also faced opposition from the Howell Township Planning Commission, which voted unanimously Tuesday, Sept. 23, to recommend the township board deny the rezoning and also deny a proposal to add a definition of data centers to the local zoning ordinance. They determined the data center proposal does not conform with the township’s master plan and vision for agricultural preservation.
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/11/county-planners-reject-controversial-ai-data-center-proposed-near-howell.html
Carrboro: Unified Development Ordinance and the Downtown Area Plan
Carrboro Mayor Pro Tem Danny Nowell spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Friday, November 14, filling in for Mayor Barbara Foushee.
During the conversation, Nowell discussed the most recent Town Council meeting, which featured discussions on the town’s Unified Development Ordinance. This topic naturally led into a broader conversation about the downtown area plan.
He also addressed concerns about leaf collection, noting that the service is currently delayed indefinitely due to equipment issues with the leaf collection trucks. In addition to these updates, Nowell touched on other town matters.
“Conversations With the Mayors” is an ongoing series on “News on the Hill,” where host Andrew Stuckey visits with local government leaders who help shape communities in Chapel Hill and the surrounding area.
Each week, the schedule includes:
– Tuesdays: Hillsborough Mayor Mark Bell
– Wednesdays: Chair of the Orange County Commissioners Jamezetta Bedford
– Thursdays: Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson
– Fridays: Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee (or a guest, as in this episode)
You can listen to previous episodes of “Conversations With the Mayors” [here].
Douglas County commissioners approve land swap for Zebulon Regional Sports Complex
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a crucial land exchange on Tuesday, bringing Zebulon, a mega sports complex planned for northwest Douglas County, one step closer to reality.
The approval allows the county to acquire 46.5 acres from Sterling Ranch developers. In exchange, Sterling Ranch will receive 23.8 acres of county-owned land designated for commercial development.
The project’s first phase will transform vacant land near Moore and Waterton roads into a regional sports facility featuring hockey rinks, gyms, soccer fields, and baseball fields. Notably, the site previously housed a DuPont dynamite factory.
In 2022, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) approved prior remediation efforts and confirmed that the site poses no environmental risks.
Currently, the county is in discussions with more than 50 private entities interested in participating in the project.
Read the full story from our partner at denver7.com.
For more Colorado news, sign up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.
https://www.denverpost.com/2025/10/16/douglas-county-commissioners-approve-land-swap-for-zebulon-regional-sports-complex/
Bihar Assembly election schedule to be announced today
**Bihar Assembly Election Schedule to Be Announced Today**
*By Chanshimla Varah | Oct 06, 2025, 10:23 AM*
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to announce the schedule for the Bihar Assembly elections today, Monday, during a press conference at 4:00 PM. With the term of the current 243-member Bihar Assembly ending on November 22, elections must be conducted before that date.
**Political Parties Advocate for Post-Chhath Polls**
Several political parties in Bihar are urging that the elections be held after the Chhath festival, which concludes in October. Their rationale is that scheduling polls post-festival would encourage greater voter participation, as many residents working outside the state return home during this time.
The previous Bihar Assembly elections in 2020 were conducted in three phases amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
**New Measures Announced for Voter List Revision**
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has introduced new initiatives to ensure a cleaner and more accurate voter list for the upcoming elections. A special intensive revision (SIR) of the voter rolls was conducted—the first after 22 years, with the last revision taking place in 2003.
These measures will be implemented nationwide and include a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) guaranteeing that Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) are delivered to voters within 15 days of registration. Additionally, a mobile deposit facility will be available at polling booths to streamline the voting process.
**ECI Reviews Election Preparedness with Bihar Visit**
The announcement follows a recent two-day visit by an ECI delegation to Bihar to assess poll readiness. The team was led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and included Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
The upcoming Bihar elections are expected to witness a keen contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Janata Dal United (JDU) alliance and the opposition Mahagathbandhan, headed by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/politics/bihar-assembly-election-schedule-to-be-announced-today/story