Cook County state's attorney seeks 70 new positions in 2027 budget

Cook County State's Attorney Eileen Burke unveiled her office's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget priorities Thursday, requesting 70 additional positions to improve efficiency, expand forensic capabilities and strengthen services for crime victims.The proposal is designed to be budget-neutral and generate approximately $5 million in annual savings by reducing reliance on outside legal counsel and overtime, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.Burke presented the proposal to the Cook County Board of Commissioners' Finance Committee, outlining staffing needs across the office's bureaus.Burke outlines vision for budget-neutral proposal"Every investment into our Office is an investment in our ability to seek and deliver justice for the people of Cook County," Burke said."We recognize that the County faces difficult budget decisions, and our proposal reflects that reality. The resources we are requesting will allow us to operate more efficiently, deliver better results and