Collected and spent
In fiscal year 2024, Cook County collected $2,626.6M in taxes and spent $3,319.8M.
Where the money comes from
One tax.
Where it goes
Eleven service lines.
Show all 11 linesShow fewer lines
Bars in both tables share one scale. Hatched lines pay for past obligations, not current services.
Details
Cook County FY2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report — audited Governmental Funds Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance (Exhibit 5, page 31-32). Issued May 29, 2025 by Cook County Comptroller. Extracted autonomously via pdftotext -layout from the published PDF; per-line numbers reproduce the audited totals exactlyWho decides
The Board of Commissioners runs Cook County. It adopts the Appropriation Bill. That bill funds and staffs county departments. The Board sets its total tax levy by the third Monday of March. It sends the levy to the County Clerk by the last Tuesday in December. The elected Board President runs meetings. The President may veto all or part of a spending resolution. 17 elected commissioners plus a county-wide elected President.
Details
55 ILCS 5/6-24001 (ilga.gov Counties Code, Div. 6-24 'Cook County Appropriations')When decisions happen
The fiscal year begins December 1. In October the Board President sends a budget plan to the Finance Committee. The Committee holds public hearings in October and November. The Board then adopts the spending bill. It takes effect December 1.
How to reach it
Details
cookcountyil.gov/service/budget-calendar (read 2026-09-05, County's own 'Budget Calendar' timeline graphic)Also on this tax bill
A Cook County address pays these governments too. Which school districts, cities and special districts apply depends on the address.
On every bill in Cook County
On some bills, depending on the address
School districts: 45. Find yours by address.
Cities: 18
Special districts: 1
Sources
Details
Cook County FY2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report — audited Governmental Funds Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance (Exhibit 5, page 31-32). Issued May 29, 2025 by Cook County Comptroller. Extracted autonomously via pdftotext -layout from the published PDF; per-line numbers reproduce the audited totals exactlyDetails
Cook County FY2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report — audited Governmental Funds Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance (Exhibit 5, page 31-32). Issued May 29, 2025 by Cook County Comptroller. Extracted autonomously via pdftotext -layout from the published PDF; per-line numbers reproduce the audited totals exactlyDetails
55 ILCS 5/6-24001 (ilga.gov Counties Code, Div. 6-24 'Cook County Appropriations')Details
cookcountyil.gov/service/budget-calendar (read 2026-09-05, County's own 'Budget Calendar' timeline graphic)Details
cookcountyil.gov/agency/secretary-board-commissioners (read 2026-09-05)To act on what you have read
Who Taxes Me describes. These three tools, made by the same team, are where you can do something about it. Each opens in a new tab.