Cook County Board Unanimously Approves Nearly $10 Billion Budget for 2025
Key Highlights
* The Cook County Board approved a $9.94 billion budget for 2025, with a focus on reproductive health services and other critical areas.
* The budget includes $2 million in grants for community organizations that provide wraparound reproductive health services.
* The county also plans to invest in generative artificial intelligence, expand access to mental health care, and put solar panels on county facilities.
Reproductive Health Services
The Cook County Board unanimously approved an amendment to provide $2 million in grants to community organizations that provide wraparound reproductive health services. This includes funding for everything from hotel stays and travel to medical bills for people seeking abortions. The county health system believes this would be the first time in recent memory that funds like this are included in the county budget.
Democratic Commissioner Bridget Degnen spearheaded the effort, stating, “Reproductive freedoms are a human right, that women touch all of the men in this room. It’s not just an issue related to women. Women care for their families. Women care for everybody.”
Other Budget Initiatives
The budget also includes a $15 million homeowner relief fund to help people struggling to pay their property tax bills. Additionally, the county plans to expand access to mental health care for patients who speak Spanish, with a wait time of up to a year to see a psychiatrist who speaks Spanish.
The county will also invest in generative artificial intelligence to help county workers do their jobs more efficiently, replenish a fund to help communities affected by flooding, and put solar panels on county facilities to lower energy costs and save the county money.
Conclusion
The Cook County Board’s approval of the 2025 budget demonstrates its commitment to supporting reproductive health services and other critical areas. The budget’s focus on grants for community organizations, homeowner relief, and mental health care highlights the county’s efforts to address the needs of its residents.
FAQs
* What is the total budget for Cook County in 2025?
+ The total budget is $9.94 billion.
* What is the focus of the budget?
+ The budget focuses on reproductive health services, homeowner relief, mental health care, and other critical areas.
* What is the purpose of the $2 million in grants for community organizations?
+ The grants will provide wraparound reproductive health services, including funding for hotel stays, travel, and medical bills for people seeking abortions.
* What is the wait time to see a psychiatrist who speaks Spanish?
+ The wait time is up to a year.
