Roger Keats: Reform Plan for Cook County
- Cut Taxes and Spending: Repeal sales tax increase and reduce spending with a line item review.
- Reform Property Tax System: Implement a rational, understandable system to determine property values.
- Increase Jobs: Streamline regulations to encourage private sector job growth.
- Reform Health Care System: Expand the clinic system to provide faster, local access to health care services and reduce use of emergency rooms for non-emergency care.
- Transparency: Post the budget and county check book on the internet.
- Strengthen Independent Inspector General: Audit every department and establish new procedures for financial accountability based on generally accepted accounting standards.
- Court System: Reduce costs by using more paralegals where possible and requiring judges to work full-time.
- Eliminate Pension “Consultants”: It is unethical to pay enormous fees to individuals who steer county business to fund managers.
- Reform County Jail: Provide incentives for prisoners to work toward a GED or gain work experience within the prison to reduce recidivism.