2026 Budget – Forest Preserves of Cook County

Schedule

Forest Preserves of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle introduced the 2026 Budget Recommendation to the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners at a special meeting on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 10 am.

The Finance Committee of the Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on the FY 2026 Executive Budget Recommendation of President Toni Preckwinkle on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 11 am.

Additionally, the Finance Committee of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board of Commissioners held a meeting for the purpose of conducting departmental reviews on the proposed FY 2026 Executive Budget Recommendation on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 9:30 am.

A reconvened meeting for the purpose of considering amendments to the FY 2026 Executive Budget Recommendation was held by the Finance Committee of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 9:35 am.

President Preckwinkle Presents 2026 Budget Recommendation

Forest Preserves of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle introduced the 2026 Budget Recommendation to the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners on October 8, 2025.

The total budget request for all funds for FY 2026 is $194.1 million, which is an increase of 2.5% from FY 2025. The Corporate budget request, which funds the day-to-day operations of the Forest Preserves, is $92.6 million, an increase of $2 million, or 3.7%, from 2025.

Revenues include property tax collections totaling $143.2 million, personal property replacement taxes revenue totaling $12 million and nontax revenues totaling $12.1 million.