By Craig Wall, abc7chicago.com
The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved a $5.2 billion budget on Tuesday.
The budget includes the layoffs of 321 people and the elimination of 1,017 vacant positions to make up for the $200 million in revenue lost when the sweetened beverage tax was repealed last month.
“We never approach a budget cycle from the perspective of cuts, we always look first to revenue, we look to trim the fat, and then unfortunately it comes down to the human toll, which is kind of the crappiest part of what we do,” said Cook County Commissioner Jeff Tobolski.
The commission voted 17-0 in favor of the budget.
Read more at http://abc7chicago.com/politics/cook-county-approves-budget-with-321-layoffs/2679097/