Chicago City Wire

Cook County Health Board of Directors Finance Committee met Aug. 5

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

I. Attendance/Call to Order

Acting Chair Lowry called the meeting to order.

Members Present: Acting Chair Commissioner Bill Lowry and Directors Joseph M. Harrington and Sam A Robinson, III, PhD (3)

Remotely Present: Director Maya Green, MD, MPH, FACHE (1)

Also Present: Board Chair Raul Garza and Directors Tanya R. Sorrell, PhD, PMHNP-BC (remote)

Absent: Chair Robert G. Reiter, Jr. (1)

Additional attendees and/or presenters were:

Ellie Bane – Chief Legal Officer

Pamela Cassara - Chief Financial Officer

Joseph Franzwa – Budget Director

Erik Mikaitis, MD – Chief Executive Officer

Alisha Patel – Assistant General Counsel

Deborah Santana – Secretary to the Board

Scott Spencer – Associate Chief Financial Officer

II. Public Speaker Testimony

There were no public speakers who provided testimony on August 5, 2025.

III. Introduction and review of proposed CCH FY2026 Preliminary Budget

Dr. Erik Mikaitis, Chief Executive Officer, provided introductory comments regarding the proposed CCH FY2026 Preliminary Budget (Attachment #1).

The following individuals reviewed the presentation on the proposed CCH FY2026 Preliminary Budget (Attachment #2): Pamela Cassara, Chief Financial Officer; Scott Spencer, Associate Chief Financial Officer; and Joseph Franzwa, Budget Director. The Directors reviewed and discussed the information. Acting Chair Lowry recessed the meeting to Monday, August 11, 2025 at 6:00 P.M.

IV. August 11, 2025 Public Hearing – 6:00 P.M.

Attendees

Chair Reiter called the reconvened meeting to order.

Present: Chair Robert G. Reiter, Jr. and Directors Joseph M. Harrington and Sage J. Kim, PhD

Remotely Present: Director Commissioner Bill Lowry and Gina Massuda Barnett, MPH

Additional attendees and/or presenters were:

Ellie Bane – Chief Legal Officer

Joseph Franzwa – Budget Director

Erik Mikaitis, MD – Chief Executive Officer

Deborah Santana – Secretary to the Board

Scott Spencer – Associate Chief Financial Officer

A. Review proposed CCH FY2026 Preliminary Budget

Note: review of the presentation took place after public testimony was received. The following individuals reviewed the presentation (Attachment #2): Scott Spencer, Associate Chief Financial Officer; and Joseph Franzwa, Budget Director.

B. Receive Public Speaker Testimony

The following individuals provided testimony on August 11, 2025:

Organization Name Title Type of testimony

1 Enlace Chicago Sahida Martinez In Person

2 Cook County 7th District Alexa Rosales Intern for Commissioner Anaya In Person

3 AFSCME Council 31 Anne Irving In Person

4 National Kidney Foundation of Illinois Monica Fox Vice President of Government Relations and External Affairs In Person

5 La Rabida Children’s Hospital Dr. Natasha Bhayani Complex Primary Care, Premier Kids, and Adolescent Outpatient Physician In Person

6 Greater Chicago Food Depository Beth Kenefick Senior Policy Advisor In Person

7 Lawndale Christian Health Center Chris Dons CFO In Person

8 Collaborative for Health Equity Cook County Susan Avila In person

9 Follow Up Caseworker Team/All Caseworkers Paula Hollingsworth Caseworker In person

10 Coretta Boykins Caseworker In person Dr. Kenneth Soyemi Written

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro

Chicago Jeremy Foster President & CEO Written

Center for Housing & Health Dominique Chew Housing Policy & Advocacy Manager Written

Written Testimony received for the August 11, 2025 Public Hearing is included as Attachment #3.

Chair Reiter recessed the meeting to Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 1:00 P.M.

V. August 13, 2025 Public Hearing – 1:00 P.M.

Attendees

Chair Reiter called the reconvened meeting to order.

Present: Chair Robert G. Reiter, Jr., Board Chair Raul Garza and Directors Jay Bhatt, DO, MPH and Gina Massuda Barnett, MPH

Remotely Present: Directors Commissioner Bill Lowry; Tanya R. Sorrell, PhD, PMHNP-BC; and Mia

Webster Cross, MSN, RN

Additional attendees and/or presenters were:

Ellie Bane – Chief Legal Officer

Joseph Franzwa – Budget Director

Erik Mikaitis, MD – Chief Executive Officer

Alisha Patel – Assistant General Counsel

Deborah Santana – Secretary to the Board

Scott Spencer – Associate Chief Financial Officer

A. Review proposed CCH FY2026 Preliminary Budget

Note: review of the presentation took place after public testimony was received. The following individuals reviewed the presentation (Attachment #2): Scott Spencer, Associate Chief Financial Officer; and Joseph Franzwa, Budget Director.

B. Receive Public Speaker Testimony

The following individuals provided testimony on August 13, 2025:

Organization Name Title Topic Type of testimony

1 Center of Concern Kristy Garceau Director of Advancement and Outreach CCDPH's programs. In Person

2 YWCA Metropolitan Chicago Debra Perry BH's Stronger Together Initiative. In Person

3 Trilogy Inc. Sarah Fletcher Chief Clinical Officer BH's Stronger Together Initiative. In Person

4 Erie Family Health Centers Dalia Morales Associate Director of Strategy & Government Relations CountyCare partnership and redetermination. In Person

5 AHS Family Health Center Muhammad Paracha, MD CEO CountyCare partnership and redetermination. In Person

Rev. Terry Weston Written

Written Testimony received for the August 13, 2025 Public Hearing is included as Attachment #4.

VI. Adjourn

Chair Reiter noted that the Finance Committee will review and consider the proposed CCH FY2026 Preliminary Budget at its next regular meeting on Friday, August 15, 2025 at 10:00 A.M.

As the agenda was exhausted, Chair Reiter declared the meeting ADJOURNED.

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