Politics

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on 2026 Budget, Federal Funding Cuts

As Chicago wrestles with its own budget challenges, Cook County is putting forth a $10.1 billion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year.

The plan includes no new taxes or fees, but things aren’t all in the clear. Officials warn of tough waters in the years ahead as potential federal funding cuts threaten to hit the county’s bottom line.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said there’s “turmoil” ahead with the Trump administration’s targeting of the Chicago area when she unveiled the plan last week. The warning is a stark contrast from the “good news budget” she pitched for the last fiscal year.

The spending plan closes a previously forecasted budget gap of more than $211 million. There’s no employee layoffs, but there is a hiring freeze for the county. This plan also calls for setting aside $65 million to replace essential services paid for by federal money.

Preckwinkle has been able to balance the county’s budget without new taxes or fees for several years, which could be harder to do as Congress and the Trump administration aim to cut federal funds for local programs.

Preckwinkle told WTTW News’ “Chicago Tonight” on Thursday that despite these funding uncertainties, the county is still in good financial shape.

On potential Medicaid cuts:

Health care costs account for about half of the county budget.

Preckwinkle said sweeping cuts to Medicaid could threaten the future of Cook County Health, which is heavily reliant on federal dollars. The cuts could also impact local hospitals and the county’s Medicaid health plan CountyCare.

“The health and hospital system is putting aside a reserve to help them get through these tough waters,” Preckwinkle said. “We have reserves on the county side as well. The way in which Congress pushed to implement these cuts, many of them are going to take effect not in 2026 but in 2027. We know that there are turbulent waters ahead because Medicaid is our principal provider of revenue for our health and hospital system.”

On responding to the Trump administration:

There’s been a dramatic escalation of aggressive immigration raids in the Chicago area, along with the Trump administration’s attempt to deploy the National Guard to the city. Federal agents have been deploying tear gas and pepper balls on protesters and police officers doing crowd control.

Preckwinkle condemned President Donald Trump’s use of federal law enforcement.

“This week, Judge Evans has issued an order that ICE may not come on to county property without a warrant for the arrest of a particular person — warrantless arrests,” Preckwinkle said. “Likewise, I have issued an executive order to the same effect; I don’t want them on county property either.”

Preckwinkle also wrote to Trump on Wednesday asking him to stop ICE’s aggressive tactics and enforcement operations in Illinois.

On her reelection bid:

Preckwinkle is running for a fifth term in office, and Chicago Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward) is challenging her in the Democratic primary in March. He has criticized Preckwinkle, arguing that Cook County’s budget has tripled in her 15-year tenure. In his campaign announcement video, Reilly said he aims to address crime concerns, corruption and wasteful spending.

Preckwinkle pointed to her successes — increases in pension funding, violence prevention efforts and passing balanced budgets. She said the county has gotten four upgrades in bond ratings in the last four years.

“If the bond rating agencies say we’re in pretty good shape, I’ll take their word over my opponent’s,” Preckwinkle said. “This is a tough job, and I think I’ve done it well for the last 15 years. After a struggle for the first two or three years, we got the county in good fiscal shape.”

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