City-County Collaborations Could Save Taxpayers Up To $140M A Year, Report Says

CHICAGO (WBBM) -- The city of Chicago and Cook County county governments could save up to $140 million a year by working together and consolidating some services.

A report from a combined city-county committee found that increasing collaboration could save taxpayers from $66 million to $140 million per year by 2014.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Debra Dale reports

Some of the saving would start immediately, with more being phased in over the next three years. Some cost saving measures identified in the report, include streamlining custodial services, centralizing energy management, and expanding joint purchasing.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle say by working together, the city and county can reduce costs and improve services for residents.

"The two governments are just a hallway apart, yet for too long we have not done the best job. These hallways have been miles apart," Emanuel said.

The combined annual costs of the two governments total more than $11 billion. Their projected budget gaps for next year total almost $1 billion.

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• Cook County
• Debra Dale
• Toni Preckwinkle