During a special meeting of the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners, Board President Toni Preckwinkle introduced the Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budget Recommendation. The total budget request for all funds for Fiscal Year 2027 is $206.9 million, an increase of 6.6 percent over the 2026 budget. If approved, this budget will allow the Forest Preserves to maintain ongoing programs for ecological restoration, public engagement and events, improved amenities and critical maintenance. The Forest Preserves Board of Commissioners Finance Committee will hold a public hearing on the budget recommendation at 10 a.m. on October 15. The Finance Committee will meet again at 9:30 a.m. on October 28 to conduct departmental reviews and will then reconvene at 9:30 a.m. on November 17 to consider amendments and a final vote on the executive budget recommendation. Public comments for the Public Hearing and the Department Reviews may be submitted in person at 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois, in writing, virtually on Microsoft Teams or over the phone. Sign-up and submission information for these meetings will be made available at https://fpdcc.legistar.com/. The Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budget Recommendation can be reviewed online at https://fpdcc.com/2027budget/.