Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle publicly unveiled her $10.1 billion 2026 budget Thursday, a slight increase from last year’s proposal that also girds against potential federal cuts and a pending lawsuit that could upend how the county funds its public safety offices.

Sticking with a now years-long trend , Preckwinkle’s proposal does not include any new taxes, fines or fees, and eliminates a projected $211 million shortfall thanks in large part to better-than-expected revenues.

While she said the county is well-suited for now, federal cuts are sure to eventually hit Cook County Health, which runs a Medicaid managed care program and hospitals and clinics that treat patients regardless of their ability to pay. Expanded federal support for safety net hospitals and insurance

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