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Preckwinkle: County Departments Haven't Performed At Their Best

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Top Cook County officials say they are using new methods to measure how well—and how efficiently—county government is working.

As WBBM Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, the officials say they're getting results.

County Board President Toni Preckwinkle says all the county elected officials are taking part in the STAR Initiative, which stands for "Set Targets, Achieve Results."

LISTEN: Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports

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A county ordinance ordered the elected officials to set standards for performance.

Preckwinkle says, for example, an analysis showed the county Highway Department wasn't using data from lawsuits filed over damage from potholes to determine where to send pothole crews.

"We're using that data to direct our employees in terms of their work in filling potholes," Preckwinkle said. "Now, I suppose that's an obvious thing to do, but it wasn't happening."

Methods have also changed in the Revenue Department.

"We were concentrating resources on wheel tax enforcement, instead of cigarette and alcohol enforcement, which is really where the money is," Preckwinkle said.

She said redirecting those efforts will bring in more revenue.

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