Cook County Financial Deficit

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Cook County's budget deficit is at its worst point yet, and despite repeated demands made on county hospitals to collect more money, their deficits are growing.

Records released Friday show the county's current deficit is at $40 million and worsening. That's on top of the $300 million hole officials say must be filled in the 2007 budget.

And though commissioners have been prodding county hospital officials to collect more patient fees, the hospitals are showing their greatest shortfall yet in patient fees.

As of June 30, county hospitals had collected $54.6 million less in patient fees than what the county was expecting.

What's going to happen when the economy goes into a recession.