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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CELEBRATING THE CAREER AND HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF STEPHEN HUGHES
WHEREAS, Stephen has provided over 40 years of public service in local government agencies including as the Managing Deputy Comptroller for the City of Chicago, the Chief Financial Officer for the Chicago Park District, the Deputy Director of Cook County’s Enterprise Resource Planning Department, and most recently the Chief Financial Officer of the Forest Preserves of Cook County (the “Forest Preserves”); and
WHEREAS, in his role with the Forest Preserves, Stephen was responsible for managing all financial affairs and administrative functions related to personnel, purchasing, risk management and financial accounting; and
WHEREAS, soon after arriving at the Forest Preserves, he discovered a substantial pension and structural budget deficit, and spent the next several years helping to identify and analyze over fifty initiatives and options to reduce costs and raise revenues, ultimately advocating to find a sustainable source of revenue to avoid reducing programs and services; and
WHEREAS, Stephen was instrumental in making the case for a tax referendum, which voters approved in 2022, providing critical funds to care for nature, improve outdoor recreation amenities, maintain infrastructure, and stabilize the Forest Preserves’ pension fund; and
WHEREAS, his focus on fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability helped build the case that the Forest Preserves could be trusted to spend taxpayer funds efficiently and effectively; and
WHEREAS, Stephen has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Illinois State University. He serves as a Trustee and Board Secretary for the Cook County and Forest Preserve Annuity and Benefit Funds. He is also a member of the Cook County and Forest Preserve Deferred Compensation Committee and has previously served on the Board of the Chicago Municipal Credit Union; and
WHEREAS, throughout his career Stephen has helped ensure taxpayer funds were spent efficiently by effectively managing budgets, outsourcing government operations where appropriate, and overseeing complex operations and functions, including procurement, accounting, information technology and budgeting; and
WHEREAS, Stephen is an avid and accomplished runner and has completed four (4) marathons, two (2) half marathons and one (1) half triathlon. In his retirement, he will continue running and looks forward to spending time with his family, including his wife, children and grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, in the words of General Superintendent, Arnold Randall, “Steve is not only a highly competent professional; he is a quiet, hardworking, honest and decent man who served the public for forty years. I am deeply grateful for his service and wish him a long and happy retirement.”
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that President Toni Preckwinkle, along with the members of the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners, and on behalf of all citizens of Cook County, do hereby congratulate Stephen Hughes on a long career of public service and thank him for his many contributions to the Forest Preserves of Cook County; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be tendered to Stephen Hughes in recognition of his career, contributions to the Forest Preserves of Cook County and his passion for public service.
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