Slowly and steadily, we have been making progress turning the tide on Cook County’s notorious history of political corruption. But serious problems remain, and we cannot rest on our laurels.
Cook County commissioners now have the chance to strengthen the office of the county’s top watchdog by giving it the funds and independence it needs to investigate wrongdoing. They should grab the opportunity.
The current county administration has taken some meaningful steps to curb corruption and waste, which cost taxpayers millions each year. Reforms curbing patronage hiring, stronger ethics rules and — crucially — the creation of an independent inspector general’s office have all helped move county government in the right direction.
The work is far from finished, however. Recent accounts by the county’s Office of the Independent Inspector General (OIIG) have described misconduct at the Cook County Health System, Forest Preserves and Board of Review, including allegations of procurement fraud, cronyism, and misuse of health and travel benefits. Other scandals, such as a plea deal by a county employee who admitted to taking bribes in exchange for lowering property tax assessments, are still fresh in our minds.
To keep moving forward, we need a county inspector general’s office that is insulated from political pressure and resourced to meet growing responsibilities. That’s not what we have now.
According to the most recent report
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from Inspector General Tirrell Paxton, his office is “severely understaffed” and underfunded. The numbers back him up: Cook County’s inspector general has just one staff member for every 1,000 county employees. That’s a stark contrast to similar offices nationwide — and to Chicago’s inspector general, whose office has one staff member for every 300 city employees.Since its establishment in 2007, the OIIG’s staff size has remained mostly stagnant, even as Cook County’s budget has nearly tripled and the office’s workload has grown. Since the conclusion of Shakman litigation, for example, the OIIG is now charged with helping county agencies monitor hiring practices to prevent patronage abuse — a big task to tackle without more resources.
This week, the inspector general will ask county commissioners to consider a budget amendment that would set appropriations for the OIIG to at least 0.14% of the county’s overall budget. This modest investment mirrors Chicago’s arrangement and would finally bring Cook County in line with national standards. Critically, it would also protect the OIIG from political pressure or retaliation.
The amendment is supported by groups including the Association of Inspectors General and the good government organization Reform for Illinois.
It is a little unusual to set a fixed funding floor for a specific agency — year-by-year appropriations offer more flexibility. With federal cuts looming large, we understand the value of breathing room in a budget. But funding for oversight is different. To be truly independent, an inspector general’s resources cannot be subject to political whims. It’s money well spent: Strong inspectors general ultimately save taxpayers money by preventing fraud and waste. Even more importantly, they help restore public trust.
A phased ramp-up of funding would avoid a sudden jump from the OIIG’s current $3 million budget to the projected $12 million. And because it sets a percentage of the county’s budget instead of a dollar amount, the office’s funding would not grow in leaner budget years. This approach balances fiscal prudence with the need for meaningful oversight.
Chicago is one of the most corrupt metropolitan regions in the country, according to Justice Department statistics. In Cook County, the drumbeat of scandals has taken a toll on public confidence. It’s time to use every tool available to fix this.
This month, the Chicago City Council passed reforms to strengthen the independence of its inspector general. Now it’s Cook County’s turn. Our residents expect — and deserve — real accountability from their elected officials. Let’s not miss this chance.
Dick Simpson is a professor emeritus at the University of Illinois Chicago, a former Chicago alderman and co-author of “Corrupt Illinois.” Alisa Kaplan is executive director of Reform for Illinois.
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