A BGA Candid Conversation With Toni Preckwinkle

In an exclusive interview with Better Government Association President & CEO Andy Shaw, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle defended her move to increase the county’s sales tax and her proposed increases in taxes on hotel and motel stays and the purchases of firearms and ammunition.

During the interview held at the downtown Union League Club of Chicago on Nov. 12, the latest installment of the BGA’s Candid Conversations series,  Preckwinkle attributed the county’s financial troubles to the “inattention and irresponsibility” of her predecessors and highlighted moves she’s made to close budget deficits, reduce spending and trim the county’s workforce.

Preckwinkle gave candid responses to Shaw’s questions on a wide range of topics, including her efforts to reform the criminal justice and health systems, reduce the county’s jail population, fix the underfunded public pension systems, spark economic development, and work with other powerful elected officials including Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner.