title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZATION TO EXTEND THE AUTHORITY FOR THE BUDGET DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE BUDGET TRANSFERS FOR COVID AND CRF RELATED MATTERS IN AMOUNTS OVER $50,000 THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2021
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Cook County Code of Ordinances, Sections 26-36 and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, 20 ILCS 3305/11, on March 10, 2020, County Board President Toni Preckwinkle found that the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 constitute a public health emergency and issued a proclamation of disaster for Cook County; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Illinois law, on March 16, 2020, the Cook County Board of Commissioners (“Board”) extended the Proclamation of Disaster through September 30, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Sections 8 and 9 of the Cook County FY2020 and FY2021 Annual Appropriation Bill (the “Appropriation Bill”) authorize the Cook County Budget Director (the “Budget Director”) to make budgetary transfers in an amount equal to or less than $50,000 without advance approval of the Board; and
WHEREAS, except for budgetary transfers authorized in Section 8 of the Appropriation Bill, transfers greater than $50,000 that are between the Personal Services, Contractual Services, Supplies and Materials, Operation and Maintenance, Rental and Leasing, Capital Equipment and Improvements, or Contingency or Special Purposes account series require advance approval by the Cook County Board of Commissioners (the “Board”) or the Cook County Hospital System Board (the “System Board”); and
WHEREAS, on April 23, 2020, the Board passed Resolution No. 20-2373 which authorized the Budget Director and Comptroller to create and implement any Special Purpose Funds or other accounting measures to track the acceptance and spending of grant dollars or federal reimbursements received, including, specifically, the County’s allocation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”); and
WHEREAS, in furtherance of Resolution No. 20-2373, the Budget Director and Comptroller established a new special purpose fund to receive and hold the County’s CARES Act allocation and in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, established a process to allocate and track spending from the CARES Act Special Purpose Fund; and
WHEREAS, on May 21, 2020, the Board passed Resolution No. 20-2465 which authorized the Budget Director or designee of the Budget Director to review and approve budgetary transfer requests through September 30, 2020, that are of an immediate nature and would otherwise require advance approval of the Board or System Board; provided, however, all such budget transfer requests shall further require the written concurrence of the Cook County Chief Financial Officer or a designee of the Chief Financial Officer; and
WHEREAS, on September 24, 2020, the Board passed Resolution No. 20-4304 which extended the authority of the Budget Director or designee of the Budget Director to review and approve budgetary transfer requests through December 31, 2020, that are of an immediate nature and would otherwise require advance approval of the Board or System Board; provided, however, all such budget transfer requests shall further require the written concurrence of the Cook County Chief Financial Officer or a designee of the Chief Financial Officer; and
WHEREAS, on December 17, 2020, the Board passed Resolution No. 21-0472 which extended the authority of the Budget Director or designee of the Budget Director to review and approve budgetary transfer requests through January 31, 2021, that are of an immediate nature and would otherwise require advance approval of the Board or System Board; provided, however, all such budget transfer requests shall further require the written concurrence of the Cook County Chief Financial Officer or a designee of the Chief Financial Officer; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Resolutions 20-2465, 20-4304, and 21-0472, the Budget Director has issued monthly reports on the budgetary transfers permitted under this Resolution for each preceding month to the Cook County Board of Commissioners and the Cook County Health System Board, where applicable; and
WHEREAS, due to the ongoing issues related to COVID-19 and to address expedited transfers related to the expenditure of the CARES Act funds, it is necessary to extend the Budget Director’s authority to approve budgetary transfers related to COVID-19 and the expenditure of Coronavirus Relief Funds that are over $50,000.00 without advance approval from the Board or System Board, but with the written concurrence of the Cook County Chief Financial Officer; provided, however, to the extent possible, and if timing permits, Cook County departments and agencies are encouraged to continue to adhere to obtaining advance Board or System Board approval, where applicable, as required in Sections 8 & 9 of the Appropriation Bill.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, effective February 1, 2021, through February 28, 2021, the Board does hereby authorize the Budget Director or designee of the Budget Director to review and approve budgetary transfer requests that are of an immediate nature and related to the expenditure of CARES Act funds, and would otherwise require the advance approval of the Board or System Board; provided, however, all such budget transfer requests shall further require the written concurrence of the Cook County Chief Financial Officer or a designee of the Chief Financial Officer; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Budget Director shall issue a report on the approved budgetary transfers permitted under this Resolution for the preceding month on the 15th of each month to the Cook County Board of Commissioners and the Cook County Health System Board, where applicable.
end